Tags: Omicron | UK | Boris Johnson

Omicron 'Plainly Milder'; New Measures Not Needed: Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Getty Images)

Monday, 03 January 2022 09:02 AM EST

New measures are not needed now in Britain to fight the omicron variant, which is "plainly milder" than earlier forms of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

"The way forward for the country as a whole is to continue with the path that we are on," he told broadcasters. "Of course we will keep all measures under review, but the mixture of things that we are doing at the moment is I think the right one."

Despite a huge surge in infections, Johnson has so far mainly resisted imposing new restrictions in England, which accounts for more than 80% of the UK population. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which control their own rules, have imposed some new measures.

UK in a Stronger Position

Johnson said pressure on hospitals would be "considerable" in the next couple of weeks, but omicron was "plainly milder" than previous variants, and the country was in a stronger position than it was earlier in the pandemic.

Britain had a "very, very high level" of vaccination, he said, and it was continuing to build up its defenses with the booster program.

"The majority of people who are in ICU [intensive care unit] have not been vaccinated and the vast majority - about 90% - have not been boosted," he said during a visit to a vaccination center in Buckinghamshire, south east England.

Johnson imposed limited measures in England, known as "Plan B," last month, including the wearing of face coverings on public transport and in shops, but stopped short of ordering restrictions on gatherings or closing businesses.

The government said on Sunday that older school children in England would be required to wear face coverings when they return after the Christmas break.

© 2025 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.


StreetTalk
New measures are not needed now in Britain to fight the Omicron variant, which is "plainly milder" than earlier forms of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.
Omicron, UK, Boris Johnson
288
2022-02-03
Monday, 03 January 2022 09:02 AM
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