UK reports its first Omicron death

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed the first death due to the Omicron variant of coronavirus as Britain expanded its booster programme for all aged 30 and above. Johnson told reporters that “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," Johnson said. He said emergency measures were needed to prevent hospitals becoming overwhelmed in the weeks ahead. UK's National Health Service expanded its vaccine booster programme from Monday after the country's health security agency found that the additional dose of the Covid vaccine significantly restores protection against mild disease caused by Omicron. 

Meanwhile, a new modelling study has predicted that the Omicron variant of coronavirus could cause between 24,700 to 74,800 deaths in the United Kingdom by April end.  The researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine suggest that the new variant of concern has the potential to cause a wave of transmission that could lead to a higher number of infections and hospitalisations than those witnessed during January 2021 in the event of no additional control measures over and above the current ‘Plan B’ policy in England. The study suggests that the wave of infection from Omicron could witness a peak of over 2,000 daily hospital admissions. It has projected 175,000 hospitalisations and 24,700 deaths by April 30, 2022, for this scenario.

However, our most pessimistic scenario suggests that we may have to endure more stringent restrictions to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed,” Dr Rosanna Barnard, the co-author of the study, said in a statement.  “Mask-wearing, social distancing and booster jabs are vital, but may not be enough,” Barnard added. The World Health Organization said in a technical briefing that Omicron is more transmissible than the Delta strain and reduces vaccine efficacy but causes less severe symptoms. The UN health agency report stated that the Omicron variant has been detected in at least 63 countries as of December 9.