Travellers to the UK will now have to take a PCR test on day two and self-isolate until they receive a negative result in a bid to stem the spread of the Omicron variant, it has been announced.
Boris Johnson said the Government is taking “targeted and proportionate” measures against the variant ahead of a “challenging winter”.
Two cases of Omicron have already been discovered in the UK, in Brentwood and Nottingham.
The Prime Minister said: “We will also go further in asking all of you to help contain the spread of this variant by tightening up the rules on face coverings in shops and on public transport.”
Face coverings will also be mandatory in shops and transport in a bid to stem the spread of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant in the UK, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
Contacts of those who test positive for those with Omicron must also isolate for ten days, “regardless of your vaccination status”.
What do we know about the Omicron variant so far?
- The variant, first reported on by i, was identified earlier this week, and is called the ‘Omicron Variant’.
- It has an unusually high number of mutations, and scientists believe that some of those mutations are likely to increase transmissibility and vaccine resistance.
- Two cases have been identified in the UK, in Brentwood and Nottingham. Both cases are thought to be linked to travel from South Africa.
- The UK has taken the precaution of blocking flights from ten countries where the variant has been identified, including Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa.
- All international arrivals entering England must take a day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
- Face masks will be required in shops and on public transport across England, Boris Johnson signalled on Saturday.
- The Prime Minister said he would also seek to speed up the booster jab programme, asking for approval to expand it to under-40s, and lowering the time between jabs.
The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference on Saturday: “We’re not going to stop people travelling, I want to stress that, we’re not going to stop people travelling, but we will require anyone who enters the UK to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and to self-isolate until they have a negative result.
“Second, we need to slow down the spread of this variant here in the UK, because measures at the border can only ever minimise and delay the arrival of a new variant rather than stop it all together.
“We will require all contacts of those who test positive with a suspected case of Omicron to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of your vaccination status.
“We will also go further in asking all of you to help contain the spread of this variant by tightening up the rules on face coverings in shops and on public transport.”
He also said the booster campaign will be expanded, and that “has asked the JCVI to consider giving boosters to as wide a group as possible” but he did not detail who this will apply to.
These measures are “temporary and precautionary” and will be in place for three weeks, before being reassessed.
UK experts believe the new variant – currently known by its scientific name B.1.1.529 – could reduce vaccine effectiveness to as little as 30 per cent and there are signs it is more transmissible than the currently dominant Delta strain.
The Prime Minister said these measures will be in place to allow scientists time to learn about the variant and support the NHS.
Omicron has also been detected in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Israel, Malawi and Hong Kong and experts say it is highly likely it will spread further
The UK has put African countries including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia on the red list.
Flights have already begun to be cancelled, and those travelling from those countries will be subject to hotel quarantine rules from 4am on Sunday.
Two people have already tested positive in the UK, one in Brentwood and one in Nottingham.
Sajid Javid tweeted on Saturday: “We have been made aware by [the UK Health Security Agency] of two UK cases of the Omicron variant.
“The two cases are linked and there is a connection with travel to southern Africa. These individuals are self-isolating with their households while further testing and contact tracing is underway.”
Surge testing is now taking place in those areas.
“As a precaution we are rolling out additional targeted testing in the affected area… and sequencing all positive cases. This is a fast-moving situation and we are taking decisive steps to protect public health,” Mr Javid added.
“The UK Health Security Agency is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious,” the department said.
“In response to the developing situation, the UK is taking decisive action to protect public health. Confirmed cases and contacts are being followed up and requested to isolate and get tested as necessary.”