DEATH TOLL
First UK Omicron death confirmed as Boris warns ‘variant will be dominant in London tomorrow’
THE first UK death from the Omicron variant has been confirmed by Boris Johnson this morning.
It comes after it was revealed ten patients were in English hospitals with the mutated strain - between 18-85 years old, most having had two jabs.
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Brits have been urged to get their boosters to fight the wave of variant cases.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington, in west London, the Prime Minister said: "Sadly yes Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly 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.
"So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters."
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Getting three doses of the Covid vaccine has been proven to be vital in fighting off the mutant virus - which has now spread to 4,713 confirmed cases.
This variant is fast spreading, more transmissible and able to get around antibodies, unless they have been topped up with a booster.
New data last week revealed boosters offer up to 75 per cent protection from mild infection from Omicron.
UKHSA figures showed immunity from two doses of AstraZeneca was close to zero after six months, but a third dose with Pfizer saw protection from the super-strain rocket as high as 70 per cent.
And in new findings released this weekend from Sage, the group that advises the Government, it is estimated two Covid jabs should still work to slash the risk of dying from Omicron by up to 84 per cent.
And the models also showed the chance of simply catching the virus and falling ill is twice reduced if you have a booster too.
Even with full protection, as cases rise and we near Christmas, it's still advised to wear masks, keep washing hands and keep windows open for ventilation.
The Sun's Jabs Army has urged Brits to come forward and have their life-saving Covid shot, with volunteers also needed to drive the rollout.
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Mr Johnson added: "The risk is plainly there, we can see Omicron spiking now in London and some other parts of the country.
"Here in the capital it probably represents about 40 per cent of the cases. By tomorrow it'll be the majority of the cases and it's increasing the whole time."
It comes as the NHS website to book boosters crashed as Brits flooded onto it hoping to secure slots, and the lateral flow ordering site declared it had run out for the day.
Walk-in centres, such as the Greendale Vaccination Centre in Devon, said they couldn't accept any more people due to huge demand, after long snakes of queueing people grew outside hubs all over the country.
A top scientist has said he thinks super-transmissible Omicron may largely cause minor cold-like symptoms - even in the elderly - as long as they have been vaccinated.
But even if you are fully protected some people could find the virus can still beat their vaccines and affect them badly, however the risk of this is much lower if fully jabbed.
Despite being highly contagious, initial studies indicate the new strain does not often lead to serious disease like the Delta variant.
Professor Tim Spector, from King’s College London, examined UK Omicron super-spreader events involving older people — and found the patients mainly suffered “sniffles”.
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He said: “What we’re seeing so far is that symptoms are very, very mild.
“Most of my information comes from one big event, a 60th birthday party where 18 people aged 60 to 75 spent the night together in a hotel.
"Most of them had symptoms of a cold — sniffles, sore throat and fatigue were common.
"Only two had classic symptoms of Covid, fever and loss of smell or taste.
“Nobody had to see their doctor or go to hospital.”
Mr Johnson last night vowed all adults will receive a Covid booster jab this month in a "national mission" as the UK battles the Omicron variant.
Addressing the nation in a pre-recorded speech, the PM urged Brits to get their life-saving vaccines and warned the country is "facing an emergency" in the fight against Omicron as a "tidal wave" of cases is coming.
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In a major announcement, Mr Johnson revealed the launch of the Omicron Emergency Boost - giving everyone over the age of 18 the chance to get a third jab by the end of the year, bringing the target forward.
Last night the PM warned that two doses of the jab are "simply not enough" to give the "level of protection we all need" as he implored people to get their boosters.
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