Two cases of ‘horrific’ Omicron Covid variant found in different parts of Britain reveals Health Secretary Sajid Javid

TWO cases of the Omicron Covid variant have been reported in Britain, Sajid Javid confirmed today.

The Health Secretary said the dreaded super-strain has been reported in Chelmsford and Nottingham as fears of a second Christmas lockdown grow.

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Mr Javid said the two individuals who have tested positive and all members of their households are now self-isolating.

They are being re-tested and have been told to self-isolate while further testing and contact tracing is underway.

The Health Secretary said the cases were "linked" to travel from South Africa where the mutant strain has seen an explosion of cases.

He added targeted testing is now being carried out in Britain, as travel restrictions were set to be introduced for Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola.

Announcing the news today, Mr Javid told Sky News: "Late last night I was contacted by the UK Health Security Agency.

"I was informed that they have detected two cases of this new variant, Omicron, in the United Kingdom.

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"One in Chelmsford, the other in Nottingham."

He added that Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola would be added to Britain's red list from 4am Sunday in a desperate bid to stop further cases entering the country.

Travellers who have returned from these four countries in the last 10 days must also isolate and get a PCR test.

It comes after Senior Government scientists warned the mutant Omicron variant was the “worst variant they have seen so far” – with vaccines expected to be at least a third less effective against it.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, said the variant could be “of real concern” as 32 mutations in its spike protein could enable it to more easily evade a person’s immune system and spread to more people.

'HORRIFIC SPIKE'

On Twitter, he wrote the variant “very, very much should be monitored due to that horrific spike profile” that could make it more contagious than any other variant so far.

Meanwhile, the Omicron's spread has sparked fears a second Christmas lockdown could be on the cards with Prof Adam Finn, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, warning Brits to be "ready for the possibility of a change in the restrictions”.

Boris Johnson will also hold a press conference on the matter at 5pm this afternoon.

Sajid Javid said this week the new variant identified in South Africa “may be more transmissible” than the Delta strain and added “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective”.

Professor Chris Whitty today urged people to "take sensible precautions" as scientists work to analyse any "possible increase in transmissibility or resistance to vaccines" in light of the Omicron strain.

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The Chief Medical Officer said: “We will continue to work closely with the international community to quickly gather and analyse information on this variant to understand any possible increase in transmissibility or resistance to vaccines.

“It is important that everyone takes sensible precautions – get a PCR test if you have symptoms, isolate when asked, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, ventilate rooms, get your vaccine and boosters as soon as you can.”

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