the “freest country” in the world, with regard to COVID regulations. However, the virus is raising its head once again, on the back of the newly discovered Omicron variant of COVID. While researchers from across the globe continue to conduct studies to better understand many aspects of the new strain, chief medical officers in the UK have decided to revise the country’s coronavirus alert level on account of the new variant.
On Sunday evening, the senior medical officials for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland raised the alert level from three to four, suggesting a high or rising level of transmission of the virus. Announcing its decision, they revealed that according early evidence, the Omicron variant appears to be spreading faster than the previously predominant strain of Delta, and that vaccine protection against the disease is reduced by Omicron.
“Data on severity will become clearer over the coming weeks but hospitalisations from Omicron are already occurring and these are likely to increase rapidly,” the chief medical officers said in their statement. “The NHS is currently under pressure mainly driven by non-Covid pressures. With a variant spreading with increased transmissibility and reduced vaccine effectiveness, we are likely to see this pressure rise soon.” Accordingly, they urged members of the public to get vaccinated and for those who are already vaccinated to get a booster jab as well. Wearing masks, keeping rooms ventilated, taking regular tests and self-isolating when symptomatic, were also among their recommendations.
Early data from recent studies suggest a 70 to 75 per cent protection given by a third booster dose against symptomatic infection from Omicron. Individuals over the age of 30 in England and Scotland can get their booster jabs from Monday, while in Scotland, those between the ages of 18 and 29 can do so later in the week.
