Fast spreading Omicron may overcrowd UK hospitals, says health minister

The omicron variant is spreading so rapidly it has the potential to overwhelm Britain's hospitals, highlighting the need to strengthen coronavirus restrictions and speed up the delivery of booster vaccine shots, the country's health minister said on Tuesday.

Omicron is so transmissible that even if it proves to be less severe than other variants, there is still likely to be a surge in hospital admissions if it goes unchecked, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers.

His comments came as the government rushed to accelerate the national vaccination programme, with a goal of offering a booster dose to every adult by the end of December. Lawmakers also voted Tuesday to approve tougher rules on mask-wearing in most indoor public places and mandatory Covid passes for nightclubs to slow the variant until more vaccinations can be delivered.

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“This is a new national mission,” Javid said. “A race between the virus and the vaccine to get as many people protected as possible.” In another effort to speed up the booster programme, UK health officials temporarily suspended the 15-minute observation period normally required for anyone receiving a Pfizer or Moderna shot.

Monday was the second-highest day for Covid-19 booster bookings in England, with more than 650,000 appointments scheduled, the NHS said.

UK health authorities reported 59,610 confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, the highest number since Jan 9. However, widespread vaccinations mean that a large number of infections is translating into fewer hospitalisations and deaths. Britain recorded 150 more coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, compared with 1,035 on Jan 9.