The Prime Minister confirmed ‘sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron’ – and refused to rule out more restrictions by Christmas
The first UK death with the Omicron Covid variant was today confirmed by Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister told broadcasters at least one patient has died with the strain. Mr Johnson did not say where the death took place or any other details of the patient.
It comes hours after the government confirmed there were 10 patients with the new Omicron variant in England’s hospitals.
Speculation has been continuing about whether Omicron is less lethal than the Delta variant. But shock data has shown Omicron cases doubling every two to three days – suggesting even if it is less lethal, it could still overwhelm the NHS.
Last night the PM warned of a “tidal wave” and announced routine appointments would be scrapped in a bid to give a million booster jabs every day between today and New Year’s Eve.
At the same time work-from-home guidance in England began today, and Mr Johnson faces a mass Tory revolt tomorrow over plans to force England’s nightclub and event punters to show Covid passes from 6am on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson today refused three times to rule out introducing more restrictions before Christmas – as Scotland’s Health Secretary said stricter rules are “inevitable”.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington, in west London, the Prime Minister said: “Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.