Omicron variety spreads across Europe, European leaders are reinstating coronavirus limitations. The surge will push health systems towards the brink of collapse, the World Health Organization’s top official in the continent has warned. The Omicron strain, which is expected to become the dominant variant by early January, according to French Health Minister Olivier Véran, will fuel the growth in daily infections in the country, which are presently at around 70,000. According to Hans Kluge, “another storm” is on the way, and governments should prepare for a major increase in cases. Spain has reported the most daily cases since the outbreak began, while France has warned that daily cases could soon surpass 100,000.
Coronavirus doesn’t take a Christmas break,” Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday.
“We cannot – and must not – close our eyes to this next wave, which is beginning to loom over us,” he added.
People infected with Covid in England will be able to end their quarantine after seven days instead of ten if they test negative on days six and seven, according to UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of England, had previously ruled out any additional limits before Christmas, but Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have all announced restrictions