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Omicron

Covid germ. Image: Shawon - stock.adobe.com

Public health officials warn councillors about increase in known covid cases

A new variant of Covid named Eris has emerged as figures show a spike in hospital admissions this summer

New Covid variant found in UK

Symptoms of Arcturus as new Covid strain claims five lives

New highly-infectious covid strain Arcturus kills five Brits

New Covid variant Arcturus has been found in the UK

Arcturus: New Covid variant found in UK

Data reveals the top ten words and names Brits struggle to pronounce the most including Niamh, Omicron & Açaí

Data reveals the top ten words and names Brits struggle to pronounce

The new variant is set to be more transmissible than Omicron (Adobe)

New Covid variant nicknamed ‘The Kraken’ is ‘more transmissible’

UK approve COVID vaccine that targets original strain and Omicron

Royal Mail to hike stamp prices again despite cost of living crisis

Director of public health Jim McManus

Covid infections in Hertfordshire have almost trebled in three weeks

Bondi Beach: Australia to re-open its borders from February 21. Photo: Getty Images

Travel column with Katie Butler: Australia to ease its Covid travel restrictions...

Used car sales jump in ‘volatile’ year as EV demand rockets

Second-hand prices continue to rise as pressure on new car sales boost demand for used models

Public health chief Jim McManus has highlighted the need to ‘live safely’ with Covid-19

Hertfordshire public health chief highlights need to ‘live safely’ with Covid-19

The Government is expected to announce a U-turn on mandatory Covid jabs for NHS staff (Photo: Getty Images)

Mandatory Covid jabs for NHS workers ‘to be scrapped’ amid staff shortage fears

Sainsbury’s is still recommending that shoppers and staff wear face masks inside its stores (Photo: Getty Images)

Sainsbury’s issues face mask update ahead of Plan B rule changes

The WHO says the pandemic is approaching its “endgame” in Europe (Photo: Getty Images)

Covid pandemic reaching ‘endgame’ - but shouldn’t be treated like flu

The new website will launch by the end of March 2022 (Photo: Getty Images)

Primark announces new website launch date - how online store will work

Face masks will no longer be mandatory anywhere in England from 27 January (Photo: Getty Images)

Boris Johnson confirms all Plan B restrictions to end in England

Vaccine stock image

More than a quarter of teenagers double jabbed in Dacorum

Vaccines are the best defence against severe disease and death, says the WHO (Photo: Getty Images)

Worst of Omicron wave ‘done with’ says WHO - but pandemic far from over

Boris Johnson is expected to confirm an easing of Plan B rules today (Photo: Getty Images)

Boris Johnson to give update on lifting Covid Plan B rules today

Around 40,000 teenagers in England will be eligible for their top-up dose from Monday (Photo: Getty Images)

Covid booster jabs to be offered to 16 and 17 year-olds from Monday

Covid passports are reportedly set to be scrapped in England this month (Photo: Getty Images)

Covid passports to be scrapped ‘this month’ as Omicron wave eases

The image has been used for illustrative purposes

Ambulance delays impact on number of patients coming to ‘harm’, says EEAST boss

Holiday bookings are up as travel restrictions are eased. Photo: Getty Images

Testing requirements eased for vaccinated passengers returning back into England

Vaccination centre

Covid vaccination: almost 15,000 people in Dacorum get booster jab in three week...

Cypriots wait in line to receive the third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at a walk-in vaccination centre (Photo: Getty Images)

Experts dismiss claims of new ‘Deltacron’ Covid strain found in Cyprus

Travel restrictions between the UK and France have been eased slightly (Photo: Getty Images)

France eases restrictions for UK travellers after ‘supersonic’ rise in Covid cas...

(Composite: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)

The warning symptom of Omicron that appears on skin, lips and nails

Troops to be deployed in London to help NHS amid staff shortages (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Troops to be deployed in London to help NHS amid staff shortages

Scrapping international travel restrictions would have no impact on case rates, claims travel industry (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Scrapping international travel restrictions would have no impact on case rates, ...

Boris Johnson to stick with ‘Plan B’ Covid measures despite mounting pressures (Photo by JACK HILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson to stick with ‘Plan B’ Covid measures despite mounting pressures

Boris Johnson confirms Plan B rules to continue as UK daily cases hit record hig...

Worst of the pandemic is ‘absolutely behind us’ according to leading vaccine scientist Photo by JACOB KING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Worst of the pandemic is ‘absolutely behind us’ according to leading vaccine sci...

Exotic pets, like scorpions and venomous spiders, caused dozens of hospitalisations (image: Shutterstock)

Thousands injured by unusual activities during Covid lockdowns

Ministers to review Omicron data to decide if tighter measures will be needed in England (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Ministers to review Omicron data to decide if tighter measures will be needed in...

Paxlovid has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (Photo: Shutterstock)

New oral Covid antiviral treatment given approval for use in UK

The self-isolation period starts immediately from the onset of symptoms or a positive test (Photo: Shutterstock)

The rules on leaving self-isolation if you still test positive after 10 days

Work on eight hubs is due to begin this week (Photo: Getty Images)

New Covid Nightingale ‘surge hubs’ being set up to manage Omicron wave

Cost of living: families could face financial 'catastrophe' in 2022 with many set for £1,200 hit to income (Photo: Shutterstock)

Families could face financial ‘catastrophe’ with £1,200 hit to income

Travel Bosses demand end to expensive Covid tests for Brits returning from holidays as Omicron 'has already spread' (Photo: Shutterstock)

Travel bosses demand end to expensive Covid tests as Omicron ‘has already spread...

Boris Johnson made an urgent plea for people to come forward for their booster (Photo: Getty Images)

Boris Johnson warns 90% of people in ICU have not had Covid booster

A lateral flow test result is interpreted by the two letters on the device (Photo: Shutterstock)

What it means if Covid lateral flow test result shows a faint red line

A return to the “rule of six” for England is one of the options reportedly being considered by government officials amid the spread of the Omicron Covid variant (Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Return to 'rule of six' for England being considered amid Omicron spread

Those who are infected with Omicron may develop a hoarse voice (Photo: Shutterstock)

The first warning symptom of Omicron you can hear before feeling ill

New Year’s Eve parties have been given the green light to go ahead in England (Photo: Getty Images)

New Year parties given green light in England as new restrictions ruled out

Brits admit to wearing the same mask for up to 10 times before washing it

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Sajid Javid, U.K. health secretary, arrives at the BBC for the Andrew Marr Show on December 19, 2021 in London, England. Marr, a veteran political journalist, is leaving the BBC after 20 years, and his Sunday morning interview programme will be temporarily taken over by Sophie Raworth starting January 9. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Sajid Javid rules out any further Covid restrictions for England before 2022

Pfizer BioNTech vaccines are prepared at Army Reserve Centre on December 23, 2021 in Poole, England. (Photo: Getty)

Thousands of Covid booster appointments to be available on Christmas Day

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: A general view of the emergency department at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel on December 19, 2021 in London, England. Covid-19 hospitalisations are rising in the UK amid the latest wave of Covid-19 infections, fueled by the more contagious Omicron variant, but the numbers remain far below peak. Still, the exploding infection rate threatens to overwhelm the NHS, and may cause staff shortages as NHS workers are forced to quarantine. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

People with Omicron variant 50-70% less likely to be hospitalised, UKHSA says

Today only - children can video call Santa with their Christmas wishes

Boris Johnson is set to make an announcement on Covid rules for England (Photo: Getty)

This is when Boris Johnson is expected to make an announcement on Covid rules fo...

Children aged five to 11 are to be offered the Covid-19 vaccine (Photo: Getty Images)

Children to be offered Covid vaccine as JCVI issues new advice

Omicron now accounts for around 90% of cases in London, according to the latest official analysis (image: Getty Images)

Omicron is now the dominant strain of Covid in England, figures suggest

Vaccination centre

More than 10,000 people in Dacorum received booster vaccine dose last week

Omicron is thought to cause milder disease than Delta (Photo: Getty Images)

Key findings on severity of Omicron variant in UK to be published today