Coronavirus: Boris Johnson will halt Covid curbs until after Christmas
- Around 1.2 million people in England were likely infected with Covid-19 last week, about 1 in 45 of the population, as Omicron variant spreads rapidly
- Governments across Europe have taken steps to control the latest wave of infections, including Germany where one person has died of Omicron
Boris Johnson will wait until after Christmas to announce any new curbs to tackle the Omicron Covid-19 strain, which has already pushed cases to a record daily level above 100,000.
It means Johnson is diverging from the UK’s other devolved administrations over how to manage the pandemic.
Governments across Europe, including in the UK, have already been forced to take steps to control the latest wave of coronavirus infections. The crisis has escalated with the emergence of the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
But Johnson faces a dilemma over whether to take further action after more than 100 of his ruling Conservative Party’s members of Parliament rebelled over the light-touch measures he has already introduced.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said two studies suggesting Omicron carries a significantly lower risk of hospitalisation than the previously dominant Delta strain was “encouraging news.” But he said it was “not very clear yet...by how much that risk is reduced.”
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U.K. breaks daily Covid-19 record as Omicron likely to become dominant strain in E.U. by mid-January
Around 1.2 million people in England were likely infected with Covid-19 last week, representing 1 in 45 of the population and a new pandemic record as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly, official estimates showed on Thursday.