'First Omicron Death' UK: "Dominant Variant in London Within 48 Hours"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the first death from the Omicron variant was reported in the United Kingdom, the UK government forecasted that Omicron will become the dominant strain in London within 48 hours.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in Parliament on the 13th (local time), "Omicron is spreading rapidly in the UK. In London, it currently accounts for more than 44% of infections," adding this forecast.

The UK confirmed its first death from Omicron, which is known to cause mild symptoms. Earlier that day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during a visit to a vaccination center in London, announced that there has been at least one death due to Omicron variant infection.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) told AFP, "It is impossible to confirm whether the UK's first Omicron death is the world's first Omicron death case."

Currently, the number of hospitalizations due to Omicron in the UK is in double digits. According to UK health authorities, there are currently 10 patients hospitalized with the Omicron variant, most of whom are breakthrough infection cases.

The first two Omicron infections in the UK were confirmed on November 27. Since then, new infections exceeded 100 on the 7th, and 1,576 cases were reported on this day. The cumulative number of infections is 4,713. The UK's daily new cases on this day were about 54,661, approaching the peak of 59,400 in January this year.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised his voice, saying, "We must put aside the idea that the Omicron variant is a mild version of the virus. I believe we must acknowledge the speed at which it spreads rapidly among people."

In response to the spread of Omicron, the UK is accelerating booster shot vaccinations. From this day, all adults aged 18 and over in the UK are eligible for booster shots. The target completion date for booster shots has been moved up by one month from the end of January next year to within this year. To vaccinate all adults within the next three weeks, nearly one million people must be vaccinated daily.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.