UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid says the Omicron coronavirus variant now accounts for 44 per cent of infections in London and will be the dominant strain there within 48 hours.
At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said, in what is the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain.
Deaths from Omicron may have occurred in other countries but none has been publicly confirmed yet outside Britain."Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Mr Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London. "So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus — I think that's something we need to set [to] one side — and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44 per cent of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Health authorities confirm Omicron COVID variant is in SATest results confirm two cases of COVID-19 recorded in South Australia are the Omicron variant.
Read more »
First Omicron COVID-19 case admitted to hospitalAustralia has had its first case of the Omicron variant admitted to hospital while the Newcastle area has been placed on alert after a positive Omicron case was active in the community.
Read more »
First person with Omicron variant admitted to hospital in NSWA person with the Omicron variant has been hospitalised, marking the first hospitalisation of someone with the strain in Australia. 9News READ MORE:
Read more »
Omicron confirmed in new stateAuthorities are racing to track down close contacts of two high-risk Covid cases after the Omicron variant made its way into another state.
Read more »
South African medics say Omicron coronavirus variant seems milder'Virtually everything points toward it being milder disease'. Omicron is being managed at home and people are recovering faster, doctors and medical experts in South Africa say.
Read more »
Victoria, NSW record drop in Covid casesVictoria and NSW have recorded a record drop in Covid cases, as the new Omicron variant continues to spread throughout both states.
Read more »