Image of people queuing for vaccine with inset of Covid alert levels

The decision comes in light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases’, the four UK chief medical officers said in a joint statement (Picture: Reuters)

The UK Covid Alert Level has been raised to Level 4, meaning the epidemic is in ‘general circulation’ with transmission levels high or rising exponentially.


It is ‘in light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases’, the four UK chief medical officers said in a joint statement.


They said early evidence showed it was spreading ‘much’ faster than Delta, and that there were already people in hospital with the new variant.


Vaccines as not as effective against the new strain, they said, stressing this made it even more important for people to get their booster jab.


It comes as Boris Johnson is set to address the nation at 8pm about the booster vaccine programme.


The UK recorded 1,239 new confirmed cases of the Omicron variant – a record daily figure, and almost double the previous high which was announced yesterday.




Covid Alert Levels (Picture: UK Government)

The UK’s Covid Alert Levels (Picture: UK Government)

It brings the total number of UK cases of Omicron to 3,137, a 65% increase from yesterday’s total of 1,898 UK cases.


The decision to increase the alert level follows advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).


It means the epidemic is ‘in general circulation, transmission is high and direct Covid-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising’, according to Government guidance.


In a joint statement, the CMOs and NHS England’s Professor Stephen Powis said the emergence of Omicron ‘adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and healthcare services’.


They added: ‘Early evidence shows that Omicron is spreading much faster than Delta and that vaccine protection against symptomatic disease from Omicron is reduced.


‘Data on severity will become clearer over the coming weeks but hospitalisations from Omicron are already occurring and these are likely to increase rapidly.’


The five officials, including England’s CMO Professor Chris Whitty, Northern Ireland’s Sir Michael McBride, Scotland’s Professor Gregor Smith, and Wales’ Dr Frank Atherton, said the NHS was already under pressure ‘mainly driven by non-Covid pressures’, with Omicron’s ability to escape vaccines ‘likely’ to add to those demands.


‘It is extremely important that if you are eligible, you get your Covid vaccination now – whether this be your first, second or booster dose,’ they said.


‘People should continue to take sensible precautions including ventilating rooms, using face coverings, testing regularly and isolating when symptomatic.’


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