UK records first death with Omicron variant

The United Kingdom (UK) recorded the first death with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Monday, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Speaking during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington, west London, Johnson added that the new variant resulted in hospitalizations and that the “best thing” people could do was get their booster injection.

“So I think the idea that it’s kind of a milder version of the virus, I think it’s something that we have to put aside and just recognize the rate at which it is accelerating. in the population. So the best thing we can do is get all of our boosters. ”
He was also unable to rule out the introduction of new coronavirus restrictions before Christmas.

Amid repeated questions, he said: “I have had a hard time emphasizing to the public that we need to monitor where the pandemic is going and that we are taking whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.”

It comes after warnings that some elective NHS care could be canceled as the UK increases vaccine capacity to compete with the phenomenally spread Omicron Covid variant.