The United Kingdom has recorded its first death from the new strain of COVID-19, Omicron.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said at least one person infected with Omicron had died.
The prime minister also refused to rule out tighter restrictions in order to contain the spread of Omicron amid Christmas celebrations.
The prime minister said the government will embark on an ambitious Covid booster shot programme to combat the spread of the virus as the country on Sunday recorded an additional 1,239 Omicron cases, marking the biggest daily rise to date with the total number of confirmed cases at 3,137.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington in west London, the Prime Minister said: “Sadly, yes, Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.
“So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population. So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters.”
Boris Johnson urged people to have a booster vaccine as he gave a warning of a ‘tidal wave’ of infections caused by the Omicron variant.
