London, Thanasis Gavos
The United Kingdom Health Insurance Agency announced on Sunday that the incidence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has increased to 246 in the country.
The British government decided at the weekend to reinstate from Tuesday the obligation of all incoming travelers to undergo a diagnostic test before their flight to the United Kingdom (except Wales for the time being), in addition to the obligation for molecular testing until the second day of arrival.
According to the Ministry of Health, this decision is attributed to the finding that the hatching time of the Omicron variant seems to be shorter than for the other variants.
“A new analysis from the UK Health and Safety Service suggests that the window between infection and contagion may be smaller for the Omicron variant, which increases the effectiveness of pre-departure tests, as they are more likely to detect positive cases before the trip.” , reports the British Ministry.
The pre-departure test, whether molecular or rapid test, should be done as close to the trip as possible and no earlier than 48 hours before the trip.
According to the British press, decisions on whether these measures, as well as the use of the mask on public transport and retail stores, will be maintained beyond the three weeks announced by the government, will be taken on December 18. The decisions will most likely be announced at a press conference by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Government sources estimate that the measures will be extended until after Christmas, although the Prime Minister is said to have resisted the urgings of scientists to proceed with the government’s plan B before the holidays. Such a plan re-mandates teleworking and the adoption of vaccination certificates. It is believed that such measures Mr. Johnson wants to avoid until at least the new year.
De facto Deputy Prime Minister Dominique Raab called on citizens on Sunday not to change their Christmas plans, saying this year would be a “wonderful Christmas”. He added, however, that the most important thing they have to do is to come for the boost dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
For his part, epidemiologist Professor Mark Gulhouse from the University of Edinburgh estimated that the measures for arrivals from abroad will probably not make a significant difference, as he said the Omicron variant is in Britain and is already spreading. “If there is a transmission to the community in the UK, and it certainly seems to be so, then it is this transmission to the community that will cause a new wave,” he explained.
The same view was expressed by Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia, who added that the Omicron variant would spread to the community “probably faster than the Delta”, and that it would probably become the dominant variant in the UK in the coming weeks. or in about a month. “
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