Health officials in the UK announced on Sunday raising the COVID alert level due to a “rapid increase” in cases of the Omicron variant.
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The level is reduced from three to four, which is the second highest level and indicates that “transmission is high and the pressure on health services is widespread and significant or increasing”.
“The first elements show that Omicron spreads much faster than Delta and that vaccine protection against symptomatic diseases of Omicron is reduced,” they point out.
Although the severity of Omicron is not yet known and “will be clearer over the next few weeks,” they note that there are “already” hospitalizations due to Omicron and that it is “likely” that their numbers “will increase. quickly “.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation on Sunday evening in the form of a pre-recorded statement, Downing Street said.
He is expected to take stock of the government’s efforts to combat the spread of Omicron, including the extension of the vaccine booster campaign to those over 30 from Monday.
The Ministry of Health also announced Sunday that from Tuesday fully vaccinated contact cases of people who test positive for Covid-19 will also be asked to perform antigenic tests daily for seven days. Those who are not vaccinated must remain isolated for ten days.
These announcements come in addition to new measures presented by Mr Johnson, including the return to telework and the introduction of the health passport in certain places, measures which will be put to the vote of the deputies on Tuesday.
The United Kingdom is particularly affected by the pandemic with more than 146,000 deaths and some 50,000 new infections recorded every day.