Today, Omicron Covid has been found in London and is now the dominant Omicron Covid strain. This was just two weeks after its first detection.
Kevin Fenton is the director of capital public health. He said that data suggests the super-strain may be responsible for at least 1 in 2 new infections within the city. This figure was up from 44% yesterday.
After South Africa raised concerns on November 24, London became the nation’s main transport hub. London was quickly made England’s Omicron epicenter. The idea is believed to be seeded by British travellers who flew into London.
Since January, when strict curbs were put in place in capital, covid cases have reached their highest point. Hospitalisations have increased by 50 to 140 per day and the average number of admissions to the city’s hospitals has risen to 145. The death rate is flat, but fatalities can rise up to one month after a person falls seriously ill.
Omicron has been behind in five of the national cases, but Omicron will surpass Delta before next year. Delta took almost two months for the Alpha variant to be taken over by Omicron.
London Mayor’s Spokesperson suggested today that they support the controversial London lockdown. He said it was better not to wait for the virus spiraling out of control and to “act now” rather than waiting.
Representatives of the Tory party called for ministers to use’strong vaccination protection’ and increase booster drives, instead of limiting people’s daily life.
Today, Nicola Sturgeon told Scots that they couldn’t mix with groups larger than three households and stated social distancing would be to return to shops and bars because of the increasing Omicron population.
These calls for tighter restrictions and the surging number of cases in London echo last year’s Christmas when London was the first city to be closed down.
The news comes as major research suggests that Pfizer’s Omicron vaccine provides 70% protection against hospital admissions and death, while Delta offers 93%.
The first real-world study in South Africa also estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus.
The results support the theory that this ultra-infectious strain of the virus is more resistant than the previous strains. Doctors on the ground in South Africa claim it for many weeks.
These maps depict areas in England where Omicron Covid has been found over two weeks (left) and December 4, respectively. The yellow areas where this variant was detected have not been coloured. The graph shows the progression of this variant from one locale authority to nearly half of the country. The detection of more cases has been greater in areas with darker colors.
Below is the graph showing seven-day average hospital admissions across England. This graph shows that there was a steady rise in hospital admissions in London (orange).
The graph below shows the Covid incidence rate for each 100,000 inhabitants in England. The graph shows that there is a significant increase in cases in London (red), but the rate remains flat elsewhere.
The fear is that Scotland’s response to Omicron could spur Boris Johnson to action. Johnson refused to allow another lockdown yesterday, and yesterday he was denied three more times.
To beat this variant, he has reinstated restrictions such as face-masking in public areas and work from home guidance. He also introduced new guidelines for Covid contacts who have been vaccinated. He also increased the booster drive, making it available to everyone over 18.
Officials have been working on “Plan C” which would increase covid curbs to people’s everyday lives. However, it is not clear if this would mean reintroducing the Tier System.
Yesterday’s Omicron case in Britain rose by 50% after 1,576 cases were confirmed. Up to December 10, there were 887 suspected or confirmed cases in London. The most (55) was found in Barking, Dagenham and Dagenham.
Professor Fenton warned today that Omicron has now taken over the capital and asked residents for booster shots.
According to him, the Standard has learned that Omicron is now the dominant variant in cases sent for analysis in London.
“It is vital that Londoners receive their full vaccinations, including the second and third doses, as well as the booster, while we study the clinical characteristics of Omicron, the possible impact on our hospitals and learn more about Omicron.
Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency — which monitors variants — showed Omicron was behind 44.5 per cent of cases in the capital up to December 11.
Covid rates in cities have risen by 55 percent in the past fortnight. They rose from 347 to 537 infections per 100,000 residents in week ending December 9 to 537 in the most recent week.
This also marks the highest level of infection in capital city since January 2001, when severe curbs were implemented.
While hospitalisations are up by the same amount, deaths have stagnated at around ten per day.
These indicators are slow because it takes for serious illness to be diagnosed with the virus.
Suggesting the mayor would support more restrictions, a spokesman said: ‘Cases of Omicron are rising sharply in London and with so much at stake, it is better that we act now to safeguard the public and help reduce pressures on NHS services.
Londoners will soon see vaccination centres open 24 hours a day, with more pop-up clinics located near them. [the Mayor] will use all of our resources at City Hall to ensure that all of London’s communities are encouraged to take up this lifesaving vaccine.
Then they added, “The last thing anyone wants is for the virus to run amok or be locked down further.”
‘We have already lost too many Londoners — that’s why it’s so important that the government redouble their efforts to make sure that we’re reaching groups who haven’t yet taken up the vaccine, step up the booster rollout and that we see children vaccinated as well, when they’re eligible.’
Labour supports more restrictions today in the Commons, and is bringing in Covid passports to nightclubs and other large events.
Repeatedly, they have criticized the government for not increasing the booster programme sooner to prevent a new variant.
Emma Best, a Conservative member of the London Assembly for Health, stated that ‘a strong vaccine shield and not a local locking down is the best protection to our capital.
“Our vaccine shield is less than in other areas of the country, with only 61% of citizens fully vaccinated. Unfortunately, many hospitals in London have already reported that coronavirus wards are filling up.
‘That’s why it’s so important Londoners get vaccinated and go for their booster jab as soon as possible.’
According to official data, 61% of Londoners received two doses. However, the majority of Londoners were not vaccinated. 25% have received boosters.
Only 32 Omicron cases were confirmed or suspected in the Capital’s 32 boroughs as of December 6.
The results show that Barking and Dagenham are the northernmost areas to have the highest number of cases (55), followed by Greenwich (53) and Newham (22). Sutton 7 and Harrow 10 are the most common, while Hounslow 11 is lowest.
Officials fear that the real number could be even higher, with more cases being filed every 2 to 3 days.
The graph below shows the progress of Britain’s vaccine drive. As the booster drive began in September, there was some delay. Opposition parties have already condemned it as putting the country at unneeded risk.
It comes as a study in South Africa today confirmed Omicron is causing milder disease than Delta, in patients in the epicentre of the new Covid variant.
In the last month, 78,000 Omicron cases were examined by officials.he risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus.
It is believed that this ultra-infectious variant of the virus may be weaker than other strains. This has been confirmed by doctors in South Africa for weeks.
But the reduction in severity is probably not solely down to Omicron being intrinsically milder, according to the South African Medical Research Council which led the analysis.
Around 75% of South Africans have already recovered from Covid and 23% are double-vaccinated. This creates high levels of immunity.
The findings will increase optimism that Omicron waves in the UK will not be as severe as previous peak events, even though there is a larger and older population.
A study by Pfizer found that two doses provided 70 percent protection from Omicron-related hospitalizations or deaths, as opposed to 93% for Delta.