What is Omicron?

Omicron is spreading faster than the Delta variant, with a speed comparable to the spread of the original virus in early 2020, before most of us were vaccinated. There are over 10,000 cases in South Africa and scientists are estimating that there are roughly 2,500 cases per day in the UK.

This is an early calculation, but it suggests that cases of Omicron could be doubling approximately every two to three days in the UK. It was reported on 15th December, 2021 that the UK has had the highest number of daily coronavirus cases to date, with 78,610 new coronavirus cases confirmed.*

How dangerous is Omicron?

It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants. There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants.* All variants can put you at risk of being very ill however, so it’s important to follow the government guidelines to stay safe, and get your booster jab when it’s available to your age group.

Will the vaccine protect me from Omicron?

We don’t yet have all the information on this, however there’s early evidence to suggest that two doses of the vaccine offers slightly less protection against Omicron than against other variants. The good news is that experiments have shown that the booster jab massively boosts levels of neutralising antibodies, which fight against the virus, so there is hope that a third dose of the vaccine may offer good protection against Omicron.*

How can I stay safe from Omicron?

It’s really important that you get your booster jab to keep yourself and others safe. There is a huge national effort to get every adult vaccinated by the end of December, 2021.

As with the other variants of coronavirus, it’s important to keep washing your hands, wearing masks in crowded spaces and get tested regularly.

The government has advised that we prioritise only the most important social gatherings. It’s also important to take tests before spending time with loved ones who might be more vulnerable and to meet in areas of good ventilation or outdoors if possible.

What are the Plan B measures?

The UK government has brought in Plan B measures to try and prevent the Omicron variant from spreading further. People are being asked to stick to the following rules:

• Face masks will be required in more public settings – including theatres and cinemas
• People will be asked to work from home where possible
• The NHS Covid Pass (proof that you have had your first two vaccinations) will also be required for visitors to nightclubs, indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any event with more than 10,000 people

What is a booster jab?