One person in the UK has died due to Omicron variant of coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington, in west London.
“Sadly, yes Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly, at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron. So, I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus. I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population. So the best thing we can do is get all our boosters,” he said.
Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in the United Kingdom, Johnson has imposed tougher restrictions and on Sunday cautioned that the variant could overcome the immune defences of those inoculated with two shots of vaccines.
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Britain gave no details on the death or whether the patient had been been vaccinated or had underlying health issues. Deaths from Omicron may have occurred in other countries but none has been publicly confirmed yet outside Britain.
In South Africa, where the virus mutation was first identified, no deaths linked to Omicron have been officially announced, the department of health said.
Britain — one of the worst-hit countries with 146,000 Covid deaths since last year — on Sunday sounded the alarm because of high levels and rising rates of transmission.
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