U.K. health secretary confirms two cases of the new omicron coronavirus variant in Britain. Scientists say the new variant could be more resistant to vaccines, though it could take weeks to determine if current vaccines are less effective against it.
U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that two people have tested positive with the omicron variant in the southeastern English town of Chelmsford and in the central city of Nottingham. He said the cases were linked and related to travel from southern Africa.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, along with his top advisers, will be holding a media briefing later Saturday. The planes arrived in the Netherlands from Johannesburg and Cape Town shortly after the Dutch government imposed a ban on flights from southern African nations. The 539 travelers who tested negative were allowed to return home or continue their journeys to other countries. Under government regulations, those who live in the Netherlands and are allowed to return home must self-isolate for at least five days.
Nearly two years on since the start of the pandemic that has claimed more than 5 million lives around the world, countries are on high alert.has alarmed health professionals even though there was no immediate indication whether the variant causes more severe disease. In just two weeks, omicron has turned a period of low transmission in the country into one of rapid growth.
He added that it is “extremely unlikely that a reboot of a pandemic in a vaccinated population like we saw last year is going to happen.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As Europe virus cases surge, UK plows on with its new normal | AP NewsAs several European nations tighten up to combat a spike in coronavirus infections, life in Britain is almost back to normal. Not for the first time in the pandemic, Britain is out of step with many of its neighbors. This time, it’s happy to be different.
Read more »
At least 2 people dead during first winter storm in UK | AP NewsLONDON (AP) — At least two people have died in the U.K. after the year's first winter storm battered parts of the countries with gusts of nearly 100 mph (160 kph). The storm, which was named Arwen by the country's Met Office, hit parts of the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland particularly hard, causing road causing road closures, train delays, power cuts and high waves.
Read more »
Climate activists block Amazon UK warehouses on Black Friday | AP NewsClimate activists are blocking Amazon warehouses across the U.K. to try to pressure the company on one of its busiest days of the year. They want the e-commerce giant to improve working conditions and end business practices they say hurt the environment.
Read more »
New omicron variant stokes world fears, triggers travel bans | AP NewsBRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world Friday as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings to weigh the exact risks, which were largely unknown.
Read more »
New omicron variant stokes world fears, triggers travel bans | AP NewsBRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world Friday as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings to weigh the exact risks, which were largely unknown.
Read more »
High alert: World scurries to contain new COVID variant | AP NewsTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — With each passing hour, new restrictions were being slapped on travel from countries in southern Africa as the world scurried Saturday to contain a new variant of the coronavirus that has the potential to be more resistant to the protection offered by vaccines.
Read more »