The 海角视频 Covid alert level has been raised following a rapid increase in Omicron cases being recorded with predictions that the variant could become the dominant strain in London as early as Tuesday, December 14.
The country鈥檚 four chief medical officers and NHS England鈥檚 national medical director have recommended to ministers that the 海角视频 go up to Level 4 from Level 3.
Increasing the 海角视频 Covid alert level to Level 4 means the epidemic is 鈥渋n general circulation, transmission is high and direct Covid-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising鈥, according to Government guidance.
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The last time the 海角视频 was in Covid Alert Level 4 was in February.
At that time, the Covid rules included...
- All primary and secondary schools being closed
- Pubs, cafe and restaurants banned from serving people indoors
- Cinemas, zoos, theme parks and other entertainment venues closed
- Organised outdoor sport banned
- Household mixing banned
- Working from home was put in place
Under the latest guidelines, the wearing of face masks is mandatory on public transport and in shops, theatres and cinemas. Employees should work from home if they can and Covid vaccination status certificates or a negative lateral flow test are needed to gain entry into large venues.
On Monday December 13, Health Secretary Sajid Javid refused to rule out further restrictions, including the closing of schools, though that is not in place at this stage.
The NASUWT teaching union is calling on Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to urgently announce additional measures for schools and colleges, including a staggered return of pupils at the start of January.
Currently, pubs and restaurants are operating normally without the need to wear face masks and there is no ban on household mixing.
In a joint statement, the CMOs and NHS England鈥檚 Professor Stephen Powis said the emergence of Omicron 鈥渁dds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and healthcare services鈥.
They added: 鈥淓arly evidence shows that Omicron is spreading much faster than Delta and that vaccine protection against symptomatic disease from Omicron is reduced.
鈥淒ata on severity will become clearer over the coming weeks but hospitalisations from Omicron are already occurring and these are likely to increase rapidly.鈥
The five officials, including England鈥檚 CMO Professor Chris Whitty, Northern Ireland鈥檚 Sir Michael McBride, Scotland鈥檚 Professor Gregor Smith, and Wales鈥 Dr Frank Atherton, said the NHS was already under pressure 鈥渕ainly driven by non-Covid pressures鈥, with Omicron鈥檚 ability to escape vaccines 鈥渓ikely鈥 to add to those demands.
鈥淚t is extremely important that if you are eligible, you get your Covid vaccination now 鈥 whether this be your first, second or booster dose,鈥 they said
鈥淧eople should continue to take sensible precautions including ventilating rooms, using face coverings, testing regularly and isolating when symptomatic."
