(London) A third case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected in the UK on Sunday, as new measures to reduce its spread will take effect on Tuesday.
The British Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the third case was detected in a person who had traveled to London, but who had since left the country.
Two other cases, “linked (between them) and a trip to southern Africa”, had already been confirmed on Saturday by the health authorities, in the city of Nottingham (central England) and Chelmsford (east of London).
Faced with the questions raised by this new strain deemed “worrying” by the WHO, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Saturday at a press conference a whole series of measures to stem its spread, in one of the hardest countries affected by COVID-19, with 144,500 deaths.
PHOTO HOLLIE ADAMS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Wearing a mask in transport and stores will become mandatory again from Tuesday, said Health Minister Sajid Javid on Sunday morning, believing that thus returning to masks “in a proportionate manner” constitutes “the right level of response”.
The tightening of entry measures into the United Kingdom announced the day before should also come into force on Tuesday according to the government site, which indicated on Sunday that “antigenic tests will no longer be accepted from 4 am Tuesday, November 30, 2021”. “All travelers arriving in the UK” after this date “will have to do a PCR test” instead and now isolate themselves until the results, it is specified.
Asked about the entry into force of this measure, Sajid Javid did not confirm Tuesday’s date. On the other hand, he indicated that London was in discussions with the decentralized Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments – each British nation deciding independently on its health policy – in order to take a decision “as quickly as possible”.
“Watered down” measures
At the start of the pandemic, the UK government came under heavy criticism for delaying tightening travel restrictions and keeping its borders open as infection rates skyrocketed. This time, he decided to act as soon as the new variant was announced, followed by cases linked to the Omicron variant on his soil.
However, many voices were raised to say that he did not go far enough given the gravity of the situation.
“It is a shame that we did not go further,” Professor Lawrence Young of the University of Warwick told Times Radio, denouncing a “watered down version” of the measures that should have been taken. The researcher considers “a pity” that the government does not set up a vaccination passport or advises people to telecommute.
The Labor opposition lamented that the government does not require travelers to take a negative test before their trip to the United Kingdom. “We desperately want to see them tighten travel restrictions,” Labor MP Lisa Nandy told Sky News, for whom “there are large holes in the defenses” put in place by the Conservatives.
In addition to the new measures announced by Boris Johnson, London had already placed on the “red list” on Friday and Saturday a total of ten countries (South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola), n ‘thus allowing from Sunday that British residents to return.
British Airways airline announced on Sunday that it had made the “difficult decision” to suspend flights to Hong Kong after a crew member tested positive for COVID-19, while he was negative when leaving the United Kingdom.