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| Covid: Two cases of new variant Omicron detected in UK | Covid: Two cases of new variant Omicron detected in UK |
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| Watch Sajid Javid set out what action the government is taking | Watch Sajid Javid set out what action the government is taking |
| Two people in the UK have been found to be infected with the new Covid variant, Omicron, the health secretary has said. | Two people in the UK have been found to be infected with the new Covid variant, Omicron, the health secretary has said. |
| Sajid Javid said the cases in Brentwood, Essex, and Nottingham were confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency after genomic sequencing. | Sajid Javid said the cases in Brentwood, Essex, and Nottingham were confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency after genomic sequencing. |
| They are linked and connected to travel in southern Africa, and both cases and their households were self-isolating. | They are linked and connected to travel in southern Africa, and both cases and their households were self-isolating. |
| The new variant has also been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel. | The new variant has also been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding a press conference at Downing Street with the chief scientific adviser to the government, Sir Patrick Vallance, and the UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding a press conference at Downing Street with the chief scientific adviser to the government, Sir Patrick Vallance, and the UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty. |
| How worrying is the new Covid variant? | How worrying is the new Covid variant? |
| Do we need new vaccines yet? | Do we need new vaccines yet? |
| South Africans fear impact of new variant measures | South Africans fear impact of new variant measures |
| The new Omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on Wednesday. Early evidence suggests it has a higher re-infection risk. | The new Omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on Wednesday. Early evidence suggests it has a higher re-infection risk. |
| Countries around the world are currently racing to introduce travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain the variant's spread. | Countries around the world are currently racing to introduce travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain the variant's spread. |
| Ten countries are now on the UK's travel red list meaning, from Sunday at 04:00 GMT, all arrivals will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. | Ten countries are now on the UK's travel red list meaning, from Sunday at 04:00 GMT, all arrivals will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. |
| On Friday, the UK placed South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini on the list. | On Friday, the UK placed South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini on the list. |
| In his announcement on Saturday, the health secretary said Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia would be added. | In his announcement on Saturday, the health secretary said Angola, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia would be added. |
| Mr Javid said: "If anyone has travelled to these four countries or any of the other red-listed countries in the last 10 days then they must self isolate and take PCR tests." | Mr Javid said: "If anyone has travelled to these four countries or any of the other red-listed countries in the last 10 days then they must self isolate and take PCR tests." |
| He said: "We've always been very clear that we won't hesitate to take further action if that is what is required. | He said: "We've always been very clear that we won't hesitate to take further action if that is what is required. |
| "Today I can announce one thing that we are doing immediately is carrying out targeted testing and sequencing of positive cases in the two areas that are affected." | "Today I can announce one thing that we are doing immediately is carrying out targeted testing and sequencing of positive cases in the two areas that are affected." |
| The Department of Health says testing is being carried out at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious. | The Department of Health says testing is being carried out at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious. |
| "Confirmed cases and contacts are being followed up and requested to isolate and get tested as necessary," it said. | "Confirmed cases and contacts are being followed up and requested to isolate and get tested as necessary," it said. |
| A spokesperson for Essex County Council said the case identified in Brentwood was "linked to a single case from Nottingham involving international travel to South Africa". | A spokesperson for Essex County Council said the case identified in Brentwood was "linked to a single case from Nottingham involving international travel to South Africa". |
| A "variant of concern" is the World Health Organization's top category of worrying Covid variants. | A "variant of concern" is the World Health Organization's top category of worrying Covid variants. |
| The decision adds weight to the mounting scientific worry about the potential of this new variant, but it doesn't change any of the facts. | The decision adds weight to the mounting scientific worry about the potential of this new variant, but it doesn't change any of the facts. |
| The variant has an astounding collection of mutations which are thought to increase its ability to spread and bypass some, but not all, of the protection from vaccines. | The variant has an astounding collection of mutations which are thought to increase its ability to spread and bypass some, but not all, of the protection from vaccines. |
| However, we still don't have the clear real-world data. | However, we still don't have the clear real-world data. |
| We don't know for sure that it spreads faster, makes vaccines or drugs less effective or whether it leads to more severe disease. | We don't know for sure that it spreads faster, makes vaccines or drugs less effective or whether it leads to more severe disease. |
| Prof Lawrence Young, a virologist from the University of Warwick, said the UK cases were "no surprise" as "once a variant is identified, particularly one that is likely to be more infectious, it will have spread beyond the few original cases and countries". | Prof Lawrence Young, a virologist from the University of Warwick, said the UK cases were "no surprise" as "once a variant is identified, particularly one that is likely to be more infectious, it will have spread beyond the few original cases and countries". |
| But he said it was "very likely that current vaccines will protect against severe disease with Omicron as they do for all the previously identified virus variants". | But he said it was "very likely that current vaccines will protect against severe disease with Omicron as they do for all the previously identified virus variants". |
| The health secretary said the UK vaccine rollout programme was now "even more important". | The health secretary said the UK vaccine rollout programme was now "even more important". |
| "We know there's this new variant out there. We don't know enough about it yet but from what we do know, the protections that we have - especially the vaccines - are hugely important," he said. | "We know there's this new variant out there. We don't know enough about it yet but from what we do know, the protections that we have - especially the vaccines - are hugely important," he said. |
| Asked about potential changes in Covid restrictions, Mr Javid said: "We will do whatever is necessary to protect the progress we have made as a country. We've come a long way since the summer and we keep all of this under review and if we need to take further action, we will." | Asked about potential changes in Covid restrictions, Mr Javid said: "We will do whatever is necessary to protect the progress we have made as a country. We've come a long way since the summer and we keep all of this under review and if we need to take further action, we will." |
| The chief medical adviser said the UK would be working closely with the international community to understand any possible increase in transmissibility or resistance to vaccines. | The chief medical adviser said the UK would be working closely with the international community to understand any possible increase in transmissibility or resistance to vaccines. |
| Prof Whitty said: "It is important that everyone takes sensible precautions - get a PCR test if you have symptoms, isolate when asked, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, ventilate rooms, get your vaccine and boosters as soon as you can." | Prof Whitty said: "It is important that everyone takes sensible precautions - get a PCR test if you have symptoms, isolate when asked, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, ventilate rooms, get your vaccine and boosters as soon as you can." |
| The average number of daily confirmed Covid cases in the UK began rising again in early November. A further 39,567 confirmed cases were announced on Saturday. | The average number of daily confirmed Covid cases in the UK began rising again in early November. A further 39,567 confirmed cases were announced on Saturday. |
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