The Omicron coronavirus variant was branded the ‘biggest current threat to global public health’ last night as the UK’s daily cases broke another record high.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid chaired an emergency meeting with his G7 counterparts in US, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the EU.
He said the leaders discussed how to beat the variant and countries were now ‘united in ramping up vaccinations at home and abroad’.
‘Deeply concerned by the rise in cases, ministers agreed that these developments should be seen as the biggest current threat to global public health,’ the ministers from the G7 said.
‘It is more important than ever to closely cooperate, and monitor as well as share data. This will be key to addressing the fast-developing situation.’
The UK now hands the G7 presidency to Germany, where new Health Minister Karl Lauterbach will host the next health ministers’ meeting.
Their statement last night is the latest in a series of bleak warnings about the threat Omicron poses to the world.
Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the highly infectious new variant poses ‘the most significant threat’ since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile top US scientist Dr Eric Feigl-Ding said the world is at risk of a ‘pandemic 2.0’ if Omicron is not taken seriously.
Doctors in South Africa, where the Omicron emerged, have called for calm, saying symptoms are more mild than previous variants.
But UK medics have been reluctant to endorse that analysis due to South Africa’s younger population and high levels of immunity from their recent Delta wave.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty confirmed yesterday that there is now enough evidence to say that Omicron does not lead to a more severe disease than Delta.
But with cases doubling every two days, he said a peak could still hit ‘very fast’ and that daily hospital admissions could smash the previous record of 4,583 – set in the second wave in January
The UK recorded more than 88,000 new Covid cases yesterday – the highest amount since the pandemic began and the second day in a row the record was broken.
Last night Wales took stringent action as it announced that nightclubs will close and social distancing will be enforced in offices after Christmas in a bid to tackle the new variant.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also warned that ‘restrictions on the operation of higher-risk settings, while of course undesirable, may now be unavoidable’.
Boris Johnson insisted that the Plan B measures he has imposed in England are ‘sensible’ and ‘proportionate’ while the booster jab campaign proceeds.
But Prof Chris Whitty advised people to cut their social contacts and prioritise what events mean the most to them to avoid catching and spreading the disease over Christmas.
The worsening situation comes as a huge blow to the hospitality industry, which has faced mass cancellations and no-shows.
Rishi Sunak will hold crisis talks with business leaders today who have seen takings plummet due to fears over the spread of Omicron.
The Chancellor faces pressure to produce a rescue package for the hospitality sector as Christmas festivities have been scaled back after the rapid growth in cases.
There are fears the UK is once again heading for another lockdown – though experts say it is still too soon to tell what impact Omicron will have on hospital admissions.
Asked today if there would be more restrictions ahead of Christmas, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said the Government currently had ‘the balance right’.
He told Sky News: ‘These are very difficult times and we’ve seen with this surge of Omicron doubling almost every two days, we’re having to take very difficult decisions.
‘I think anyone that pretends that this is simple or straightforward is pretending.
‘However, I do think right now we have got the balance right. The key thing is the booster.’
All adults over 18 in England are being invited to book their booster jab by the end of the year.
The ambitious target was announced after evidence showed two vaccine doses is not enough to fight off Omicron.
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