Omicron | UK
UK: Study warns major Omicron wave in Jan if public gatherings not restricted
London: UK could face a large wave of infections linked to Omicron in January if a ban on social gatherings is not imposed immediately, a latest study has indicated, according to media reports.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) model has laid out various possibilities considering the rate at which the infection is spreading with the uncertainty over the number of persons who would ultimately require hospitalisation due to the virus.
It comes at a time when the UK recorded another jump in Omicron cases on Saturday, with 633 new infections, taking the total to 1,898.
"Based on what we're seeing we can expect there to be a large wave of Omicron in the UK," said Dr Nick Davies, one of the researchers behind the LSHTM modeling.
The study noted that the Omicron infections are currently doubling every 2.4 days in England, despite the region having high levels of vaccination while assuming that the infections caused are less severe than the various variants.
This also proves correct previous predictions that Omicron will overtake Delta as the dominant variant.
"In our most optimistic scenario, the impact of Omicron in the early part of 2022 would be reduced with mild control measures such as working from home,” Dr Rosanna Barnard, one of the researchers of the analysis, told the BBC. “However, our most pessimistic scenario suggests that we may have to endure more stringent restrictions to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed. Mask-wearing, social distancing and booster jabs are vital, but may not be enough,” she said.
The research has been published online but is yet to be peer-reviewed.
Wearing face coverings became compulsory in most indoor venues including theatres, cinemas, places of worship, museums, and indoor sports stadiums, under measures to tackle the Omicron variant.
Covid-19 vaccine certificates will be compulsory for entry into most venues from this week.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported based on initial findings that a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was up to 75 percent effective in protecting against the Omicron variant.
It analysed data from 581 Omicron cases and thousands of Delta cases to calculate how effective vaccines were against the new variant.
"We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of COVID-19,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at UKHSA.
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