CASES of Omicron in the UK are steadily increasing – with 14 now reported across the country.
Scotland logged another three infections of the mutant variant this morning, on top of six reported yesterday.
And England has got five confirmed cases, with three in the capital.
Omicron reached UK shores less than a week after being reported as a concern in African countries.
The Health Secretary told the Commons yesterday afternoon: “There have now been five confirmed case in England and six in Scotland.
“We expect cases to rise over the coming days.
“The new variant has been spreading in the world – its been reported in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands.
“In this race between vaccines and virus, this variant may have given the virus extra legs.
“Our strategy is to buy time and strengthen defences while scientists learn more.”
Read our Omicron variant live blog for the latest news
Scotlands Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said there are now five cases in the Lanarkshire area and four in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, up from the six across the two areas announced on Monday.
Asked if there was any connection between Cop26 or a recent South Africa rugby match, he told BBC Good Morning Scotland: “There’s nothing that links these cases or indeed the variant back to Cop26 or indeed the rugby match.”
He added: “There’s nothing that indicates these cases or this new variant has come via the rugby or Cop26 but that work of course is still ongoing .”
Nicola Sturgeon said Scots should work from home immediately, sparking worries England could follow suit.
And yesterday afternoon two more cases in London were reported – one in Camden and one in Wandsworth – both have linked to travel in Southern Africa.
To beat the spread, Brits who fail to wear a mask in shops and on public transport face a maximum fine of £6,400 from today.
Penalties of £200 will be handed to people in England who don’t wear a face covering under new Government rules to crack down on the Omicron Covid variant.
It comes as another Christmas lockdown hasn’t been ruled out as a last resort to tackle Omicron – as Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted we must “learn to live” with Covid.
Brits have been urged to get their third jabs and start self-testing regularly to help avoid further restrictions over the festive period.
As well as shops, buses trains and trams, masks must also be worn in hairdressers, nail salons, banks and post offices in England under new curbs from 4am.
Masks won’t be required in the hospitality sector, meaning they aren’t needed in restaurants and pubs, or by law in venues like concerts, cinemas and theatres.
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said: “We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.
“Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant – please get your first, second or booster jab without delay.
“It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focussed contact tracing. That’s why it’s critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.”
Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that now is a “time for caution” as he urged people to do “anything that they can do to reduce the risk” of catching Covid-19.
He told Sky News: “”It’s a time for people to be careful to stay at home when they can to avoid contact with others just to help us get through this difficult period.
“Asked about Christmas, he added: “Well, certainly we don’t want to cancel a Christmas yet again.
“But in the build up to Christmas the more we can keep a watchful eye open for this virus we reduce the risk of getting exposed to it.”
