‘Panic’ in Britain as Omicron crisis bites ahead of Christmas

UK: Soaring Omicron cases left Britons scrambling Thursday to make alternative Christmas plans, faced with cancellations, long queues for vaccines and France shutting the border to UK visitors.

Britain recorded a second consecutive record daily number of new Covid infections at more than 88,000 but the Government has so far stopped short of formal limits on socialising as it awaits further evidence of the severity and impact of the new Omicron variant.

Last year, Christmas celebrations were drastically curtailed after the Alpha variant swept the country. Britons had hoped that this year would be different, but cases have again shot up since the Omicron strain of the virus first emerged. The UK Government last week updated its guidance to advise people to work from home if they can, while mandating they must wear masks in some settings.

Recent days have seen long lines outside vaccination centres in London and other towns and cities, as people heeded Johnson’s call to get jabbed again.

But at the same time, pubs, theatres and other entertainment venues have reported rising cancellations — and concerns about their viability — as the case numbers continue to climb. The sudden announcement sparked anxiety and even panic among would-be travellers scrambling to cross the Channel in time for Christmas.

– THE MALAY MAIL