LONDON: At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron coronavirus variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, the first publicly confirmed death globally from the swiftly spreading strain.
Since the first Omicron cases were detected on Nov. 27 in Britain, Johnson has imposed tougher restrictions and on Sunday cautioned that the variant could overcome the immune defences of those inoculated with two shots of vaccines.
Britain gave no details on the death other than the person had been diagnosed in hospital. It was not clear if the patient had been vaccinated or had underlying health issues.
Deaths from Omicron may have occurred in other countries but none has been publicly confirmed yet outside Britain.
"Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron," Johnson told reporters at a vaccination centre in London.
"So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus - I think that's something we need to set (to) one side - and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population."
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the variant now accounted for 44% of infections in London and would be the dominant strain in the capital within 48 hours. New Omicron infections are estimated at 200,000 per day, Javid said.
Before the death was announced, Britain said 10 people had been hospitalised with Omicron in various parts of England. Their ages ranged from 18 to 85 years and most had received two vaccination doses.
The UK Health Security Agency said Omicron - first detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong in late November - can overcome the immunity of those who have had two shots of vaccines such as AstraZeneca (AZN.L) or Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N), .
South Africa's health ministry said it was unable to say with certainty if any of its COVID-19 deaths were caused by Omicron as deaths were not broken down by variant.
The World Health Organization said on Sunday that while preliminary findings from South Africa suggest Omicron may be less severe than the Delta variant - currently dominant worldwide, and all cases reported in the Europe region have been mild or asymptomatic, it remains unclear to what extent Omicron may be inherently less virulent. read more
NEW LOCKDOWNS?
Johnson, now grappling with a rebellion in his party over measures to curb Omicron and an outcry over staff parties at his Downing Street office during last year's lockdowns, said people should rush to get booster vaccines to protect "our freedoms and our way of life".
After COVID-19 was first detected in China in late 2019, he faced criticism for initially resisting lockdown.
He has also been criticised for overseeing mistakes in transferring patients into care homes, and for building a costly test-and-trace system that failed to stop a deadly second wave.
Johnson has repeatedly said that while mistakes were made, the government was making decisions swiftly in the biggest public health crisis for generations and that it was quick to roll out vaccines.
More than 146,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United Kingdom.
Asked if he could rule out tougher restrictions in England before Christmas, Johnson avoided giving a direct answer. His health minister, Javid, said he knew of no plans for additional measures. "There are no plans that I am aware of for any further restrictions," Javid said.
VACCINE QUEUES
Johnson faces growing anger from libertarians in his party over tougher curbs on daily life and sinking poll ratings.
He has also faced criticism over his handling of a sleaze scandal, the awarding of lucrative COVID contracts, the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, and a claim that he intervened to ensure pets were evacuated from Kabul during the chaotic Western withdrawal from Afghanistan in August.
An Ipsos MORI poll for The London Evening Standard newspaper showed opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer's ranking was 13 percentage points ahead of Johnson, the first time a Labour chief was viewed as a more capable prime minister since 2008.
It also echoed other polls by showing Labour up three points on 39% ahead of Johnson's Conservatives, who were down one point since the last survey in November on 35%. read more
At St. Thomas' Hospital Vaccination Centre in central London, a queue of hundreds of people snaked back onto Westminster Bridge. Reuters journalists also documented queues across London and in Manchester, northern England.
"The COVID vaccine booking service is currently facing extremely high demand so is operating a queuing system," the National Health Service said on Twitter. It suggested trying again later.
Home testing kits were also unavailable to order.
Reuters
Tue Dec 14 2021
![Britain reports first death with Omicron coronavirus variant Britain reports first death with Omicron coronavirus variant](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/51639455304_StThomasHospital.jpg)
People queue outside a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in London, Britain, December 13, 2021. - REUTERS/Hannah McKay
AWANI Ringkas: Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini | Skandal LCS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, kenapa tak umum tahun lepas? - MP Kampar
Chong Zhemin, tindakan tersebut seolah-olah satu penghinaan paling besar kepada Parlimen yang telah meluluskan pindaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan berkait Akta Antilompat Parti.
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
[TERKINI] Astro dipilih sebagai penyiar rasmi Olimpik Paris 2024
Astro dipilih sebagai penyiar rasmi bagi Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 bermula hujung bulan ini.
[TERKINI] Speaker DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi Muhammad Jailani
DUN Melaka masih menunggu surat rasmi daripada Pas berhubung tindakan ADUN Rembia, Datuk Muhamad Jailani Khamis yang menyertai Pas.
Sasar sumbang RM500 bilion kepada kdnk tempoh tiga tahun
Selangor perlu merancakkan semula kapasiti pembuatan untuk tidak hanya memenuhi keperluan tempatan, tetapi menjadikan negeri itu sebagai asas kepada pelan peluasan ke rantau Asia Tenggara dan Asia.
![Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720789446_Wanitadihempapkay.jpg)
Wanita dihempap kayu balak mula sedarkan diri
Wanita yang nyaris maut akibat dihempap kayu balak dalam kejadian di lampu isyarat di Persimpangan Bendahara, Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai di sini 9 Julai lepas, kini dilaporkan mula sedarkan diri.
Sah suspek anggota polis
Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan mengesahkan suspek bunuh Nur Farah Kartini, ialah anggota polis.
Suspek juga yang dipercayai teman lelaki mangsa dan bertugas di Perak.
Suspek juga yang dipercayai teman lelaki mangsa dan bertugas di Perak.
Suspek dibawa ke lokasi kejadian di ladang kelapa sawit
Suspek kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut UPSI Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah dibawa ke lokasi kejadian di ladang kelapa sawit di Kampung Sri Keledang, Hulu Bernam, Selangor.
![Ringgit susut berbanding dolar US pada penutup Ringgit susut berbanding dolar US pada penutup](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit susut berbanding dolar US pada penutup
Pada 6 petang, ringgit susut lagi kepada 4.6745/6790 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.6725/6745 semasa ditutup semalam.
![Na'imah peroleh pasport sementara ke London, Venice Na'imah peroleh pasport sementara ke London, Venice](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71705975527_TBTohPuanNaimah.jpg)
Na'imah peroleh pasport sementara ke London, Venice
Mahkamah memerintahkan Na'imah menyerahkan pasport kepada mahkamah selepas kembali ke Malaysia sebelum atau pada 27 Julai ini.
![Kate Middleton sertai Trooping the Colour bersama ahli keluarga Kate Middleton sertai Trooping the Colour bersama ahli keluarga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718469005_tbPrincessofWales.jpg)
Kate Middleton sertai Trooping the Colour bersama ahli keluarga
Puteri Wales menyertai ahli keluarganya di acara perarakan tahunan tentera, Trooping the Colour pada Sabtu.
![Lelaki Britain, 73 tahun individu yang maut dalam insiden gelora udara pesawat SIA Lelaki Britain, 73 tahun individu yang maut dalam insiden gelora udara pesawat SIA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/61716305252_TBSIADIES.jpg)
Lelaki Britain, 73 tahun individu yang maut dalam insiden gelora udara pesawat SIA
Insiden melibatkan pesawat dengan nombor pendaftaran SQ321 itu turut mengakibatkan tujuh penumpang lain berada dalam status kritikal akibat kecederaan yang dialami.
![AirAsia X timbang tawar penerbangan ke Eropah Timur, London dan Orlando AirAsia X timbang tawar penerbangan ke Eropah Timur, London dan Orlando](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/71637676353_AirAsiaX.jpg)
AirAsia X timbang tawar penerbangan ke Eropah Timur, London dan Orlando
AirAsia X menimbang kemungkinan untuk menawarkan penerbangan ke negara di Eropah Timur dan menyambung semula laluan ke London serta menggunakan hak pendaratannya di Orlando.
![MAS ubah laluan penerbangan, elak ruang udara Iran dan ketegangan di Asia Barat MAS ubah laluan penerbangan, elak ruang udara Iran dan ketegangan di Asia Barat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51711099327_MAS.jpg)
MAS ubah laluan penerbangan, elak ruang udara Iran dan ketegangan di Asia Barat
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) akan mengubah laluan penerbangan antara Kuala Lumpur dan London untuk mengelak ruang udara Iran berikutan ketegangan yang semakin memuncak di Asia Barat.
![Alexei Navalny dianggap sebagai hero oleh pengikutnya Alexei Navalny dianggap sebagai hero oleh pengikutnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708128533_AlexeiNavalny.jpg)
Alexei Navalny dianggap sebagai hero oleh pengikutnya
Alexei Navalny yang meninggal dunia dalam penjara dianggap sebagai hero di mata rakyat Rusia.
![Polis Metropolitan London dedah rakaman suspek serangan bahan kimia Polis Metropolitan London dedah rakaman suspek serangan bahan kimia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/71707174273_TBsuspect.jpg)
Polis Metropolitan London dedah rakaman suspek serangan bahan kimia
Rakaman kamera keselamatan Polis Metropolitan London mendedahkan gambaran suspek dalam kes serangan bahan kimia di sebuah pasaraya di selatan London yang berlaku pada Ahad lalu.
![Britain pulangkan set pakaian emas Ghana yang dirompak pada abad ke 19 Britain pulangkan set pakaian emas Ghana yang dirompak pada abad ke 19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81706235077_lootedroyalregalia.jpg)
Britain pulangkan set pakaian emas Ghana yang dirompak pada abad ke 19
Britain memulangkan semula set pakaian emas Ghana yang dirompak daripada Raja Asante pada abad ke-19.
![London bandar paling sesak di dunia, Kuala Lumpur pun masuk senarai London bandar paling sesak di dunia, Kuala Lumpur pun masuk senarai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81705022529_kualalumpur.jpg)
London bandar paling sesak di dunia, Kuala Lumpur pun masuk senarai
Mengikut data yang mengumpul kesesakan terburuk dunia daripada 387 bandar di 55 negara sepanjang tahun lalu, London di tangga pertama.
![Jenazah Allahyarham Fiza Kamarudin selamat dikebumikan Jenazah Allahyarham Fiza Kamarudin selamat dikebumikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61704526390_tbPengebumian.jpg)
Jenazah Allahyarham Fiza Kamarudin selamat dikebumikan
Allahyarham Fiza Kamaruddin selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Raudhatul Sakinah, Taman Selasih, di sini, tengah hari ini.