London: Omicron is wreaking havoc in the UK ahead of Christmas and New Year eve.
More than 10,000 cases of the new variant of coronavirus were detected in the country in the past 24 hours out of a total of 90,000-plus COVID-positive cases
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the total number of Omicron-positive cases has surpassed 25,000.
Adding to the worry, 7 Omicron-infected patients have succumbed to the illness, up from just one death as per UKHSA’s previous data. The number of people hospitalized with Omicron also increased from 65 to 85.
The actual number of Omicron cases is much higher, according to the British government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Hundreds of thousands of people were “almost certainly” being infected with the new variant every day, authorities said.
SAGE officials said if this trend continues, England could see at least 3,000 hospital admissions per day soon.
The remarkable pace at which the new, highly transmissible COVID-19 strain is spreading has set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared a “major incident” to help the capital city’s hospitals cope with the Omicron surge.
“I’ve taken the decision, in consultation with our partners, to declare a major incident today,” Khan said in a Sky News broadcast.
London reported logged over 26,000 fresh COVID-positive cases — the highest daily number since the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
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