Covit-19 Vaccine and Omigran News: Live Announcements

Health officials announced Friday that more than 93,000 people in the UK have been tested positive for the corona virus in 24 hours, putting pressure on the government to oppose imposing stricter restrictions on the fast-spreading Omicron variant before Christmas.

The government said 93,045 cases Were recorded the previous day The third day in a row Britain’s case record is record high.

Officials said Omigron Delta has become the dominant variant in Scotland. Increasing in many parts of Britain, In some cases the infection doubles once every two to three days.

While the impact on the country’s health system is not yet known, officials have warned that the number of cases could be even higher. But of Britain Relatively high vaccination levels Seemed to control the incidence of acute illness and death.

However, as the country was shaded by the virus for the second consecutive winter, authorities avoided ordering the tired public to cancel Christmas plans.

Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon told a news conference on Friday that Omigron cases were growing “faster than anything previously experienced in the epidemic”.

“The tsunami I warned about a week ago is starting to hit us now,” he added.

But he again advised that people should limit their social interactions as much as possible and that no more than three families should attend during the holidays, Ms Sturgeon avoided announcing drastic measures. “We are in a much better position than we were at this time last year because of the vaccine,” he urged people to remain optimistic.

“Every booster placed in one’s hand is another brick in this defensive wall,” Ms Sturgeon said.

British officials are counting on vaccines to blunt the Omicron wave, and the health system has significantly expanded a booster campaign that now offers third shots to all adults. On Thursday, health officials said more than 626,000 people in the UK had received a booster dose in the previous 24 hours, a new one-day record.

However, according to government data, less than 45 percent of those aged 12 and over have received the third vaccine. The UK Health Care Agency has warned that two doses of one vaccine are not enough to prevent the disease from coming from Omicron.

In London, despite the virus threatening sports and the arts, most major Christmas events went smoothly. There have been several English Premier League football matches Suspended The show has seemed a bit unfocused in recent episodes, including “The Lion King” and “Life of Pi.” After some cast and crew tested positive.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson came up with somewhat tougher restrictions this week, including a plan Vaccine certification system should be imposed Enter nightclubs and large indoor spaces. But he did so on the objections of many within his Conservative party, who were adamantly opposed to drastic measures.

Considering how fast Omigran is spreading, some experts say that by avoiding such activities before Christmas, the authorities run the risk of infecting hundreds of thousands more people.

“The time to act is early, and any action that introduces any delays will be much less effective,” said Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London. “The way to protect all our freedoms and prosperity is to bring the virus under control.”

Health officials in Wales announced new restrictions this week that would start on December 27, including the closure of nightclubs and the mandatory social distance of two meters or about six feet in offices and shops.

Mark Drakeford, Wales’ first minister, described Omigron as the most serious challenge in epidemics to date, urging people not to even form large groups during the holidays. “Little Christmas is the safest Christmas this year,” he told Sky News.

Mr. Drakeford added that although the delta variant dominates Wales, there is a steady stream of infections and hospitalizations, “we know the Omigron wave is flowing, and when it comes to Wales, it will rise very fast and steeply.”