The number of cases of the rapidly transmitted Omicron variant of the coronavirus has risen rapidly to almost 25,000, while the total number of reported deaths in humans who have been infected with it so far is seven, according to the British health authorities.
The confirmed number of cases of the Omicron variant was 24,968 yesterday at 21:00 local time, 10,000 more cases than 24 hours earlier, the United Kingdom Health Insurance Agency announced today.
Omicron-infected deaths rise to seven on December 16 from one recorded by the Agency by December 14
At the same time, the number of hospitalizations increased from 65 to 85.
Given this situation, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today declared a “major incident” to help the hospitals of the British capital to manage the increase of cases caused by the fast-spreading Omicron.
Kahn took this step, which allows for closer coordination between different public services after the announcement yesterday of the largest increase in new cases within 24 hours of the pandemic.
Hospitalization and sick leave are on the rise, Kahn said, “and so I made the decision, in cooperation with our partners, to declare a major incident today.”
“This is an indication of how serious things are,” he said.
Kahn, of the opposition Labor Party, had also declared a “major incident” in January when rising coronavirus cases threatened to overwhelm hospitals.
Omicron is estimated to be responsible for more than 80% of new cases in London.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was to chair an extraordinary committee meeting over the weekend with the local governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pursuing their own public health policies.
Sky News reported that government ministers are being briefed today on the latest developments in the pandemic sector.
The Times writes that officials are preparing a series of new regulations that, if imposed, will ban gatherings in homes between members of different households in England, unless it is a business, after Christmas when restaurants will only be allowed to serve outside. places.
The newspaper writes that citizens will be allowed to meet in groups of up to six people and outdoors.
But, as noted in the post, ministers have not yet formally considered the plans.
Asked about the report, a government spokesman said the government would continue to “look closely at all the evidence and review all measures as we learn more about this variant”.
Source: AMPE
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Source From: Capital
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