Health Secretary Sajid Javid will address MPs in Parliament today at 3.30pm, following an emergency meeting of the G7 health ministers on the Omicron Coronavirus variant.
Omicron Coronavirus was only discovered last Wednesday in South Africa but has now been identified across the world, including the UK. Three cases have been found in England, and six in Scotland.
The confirmed emergence in the UK forced the Prime Minister over the weekend to announce a new range of restrictions the Health Secretary will detail and confirm in Parliament prior to their coming into force tomorrow morning.
The public will once again be mandated to wear face masks to minimise risk of the further spread of the Omicron Coronavirus variant in shops and public transport. School pupils in year seven and above will also be directed to wear them in non-classroom communal areas of schools. So far, hospitality has not been included any new restrictions, it is almost inevitable that will change.
Many countries have acted swiftly with an immediate and total ban on international travel from South Africa including Israel, UAE and others. Once again, UK government dallies, arrivals into England from South Africa have continued since the outbreak was identified with passengers being ‘asked’ to self-isolate until they receive a negative PCR test. The test must take by the second day after their arrival, although why not day one, or pre-arrival has not been explained.
Not containing the spread of the Omicron Coronavirus variant more vigilantly will undoubtedly lead to restrictions being more stringent and over a longer period of time, unnecessarily damaging hospitality and the wider economy.
Government seem to be once again following their flawed Delta variant strategy, where delays cost lives and cost livelihoods.