MINISTERS were urged to ditch any new year Covid curbs as it emerged Omicron is up to 70 per cent less likely to put people in hospital than Delta.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid hailed the encouraging news and told families to enjoy their Christmas safe from the threat of tougher restrictions for now.
Yesterday, saw a record 119,789 new Covid cases — with total Omicron infections now up to 90,906.
The past seven days have seen nearly a quarter of a million more cases than the week before. But the latest studies showed the risk of hospital admission with the new variant was 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
The UK Health Security Agency figures confirmed reports from Imperial College London and Edinburgh University that the strain was milder. One health official said: “Given that South Africa, Denmark, Scotland and England are all reporting similar findings heads us in one direction.”
Scientists and ministers said they were still waiting for data of how the new variant could affect the over-40s — and stood ready to take more action within days if required.
Sources say the virus behaves differently to Delta and infects cells in other parts of the airways, which could be what makes it less deadly. But they warned the sheer number of cases could still lead to a big wave of hospital admissions
The UKHSA study found that boosters were vital for preventing infection with Omicron — but warned the protection started to wear off after about ten weeks.
Thousands flocked to Trending In The News Jabs Army’s Big Boost event at Wembley Arena yesterday — where ex-Towie star and now trained vaccinator Bobby Norris jabbed Love Island’s Sharon Gafka.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a Sage member and virologist at University College London, said of the Omicron findings: “It’s undeniably good news but we’re definitely not out of the danger zone.
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“I think perhaps we can downgrade this from a hurricane to a very severe storm.” He also suggested any curbs would not be needed for nearly as long as before, as the Omicron wave showed signs of peaking quickly in South Africa.
Despite Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’s tougher rules from Boxing Day, Trending In The News understands no decisions on England will be taken until at least next week.
Downing Street believes there is room for cautious optimism as millions cut down contacts so they can be with loved ones at Christmas.
A Government source said: “There isn’t anything currently to justify more restrictions but we are keeping it under constant review.
“It’s better to wait for the data and be sure of the need to be tougher, rather than act early and out of proportion.”
Parliament could be recalled as early as Monday to bring in sweeping new rules if ministers believe the situation has changed, but last night MPs urged the PM to hold his nerve.
Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant told Trending In The News: “Boris should continue to stand firm and ignore Labour taunts to ‘provide certainty now’ for businesses for new year celebrations.
“If the Government takes their advice, they will have to play it safe and announce tough restrictions.”
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith added: “All of the data is going in the right direction. The Government has made the right decisions, despite attempts to be bullied.”
Labour leaders were left isolated in calling for further restrictions — after the party’s Manchester mayor Andy Burnham backed the PM’s stance.
