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Covid: First UK death recorded with Omicron variant | Covid: First UK death recorded with Omicron variant |
(32 minutes later) | |
At least one person in the UK has died with the Omicron coronavirus variant, the prime minister has said. | |
Boris Johnson said the new variant was also resulting in hospital admissions and the "best thing" people could do was get their booster jab. | Boris Johnson said the new variant was also resulting in hospital admissions and the "best thing" people could do was get their booster jab. |
Visiting a vaccination clinic in London, he said people should set aside the idea Omicron was a milder variant. | Visiting a vaccination clinic in London, he said people should set aside the idea Omicron was a milder variant. |
On Sunday, the PM set a new target for all adults in England to be offered a booster by the end of the month. | On Sunday, the PM set a new target for all adults in England to be offered a booster by the end of the month. |
Speaking during a visit near Paddington, west London, Mr Johnson said: "Sadly yes, Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron. | |
"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that's something we need to set on one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population." | |
How do I book my vaccine booster? | |
PM’s message to sit up and pay attention | |
On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said 10 people were in hospital in England with the Omicron variant. | |
The booster rollout has been accelerated in response to Omicron, after early analysis suggested two doses of a Covid vaccine were not enough to stop people catching the variant. | |
However, a third booster dose gives around 70% to 75% protection against symptomatic infection with Omicron, analysis by the UK Health Security Agency found. | |
The NHS website crashed on Monday after more than 100,000 people tried to book their booster, the government said. | |
There have also been long queues at walk-in centres and lateral flow test kits are unavailable on the government website after a rush to order them. | |
From Tuesday, people who are fully vaccinated will be advised to take daily tests if they are identified as a contact of someone who has Covid. |