An "Omicron tidal wave" in the United Kingdom: in difficulty, Boris Johnson wants to regain control

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will speak on television this Sunday, December 12, 2021 in the evening to discuss the fight against Covid.

© Adrian Dennis / AP

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Health officials in the United Kingdom announced this Sunday, December 12, to raise the Covid alert level due to a " 

 " in cases of the Omicron variant.

Booster doses will be offered to those over 18 by the end of December, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a recorded speech to the nation as he grapples with repeated scandals.

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" 

 " in the United Kingdom, warned the Prime Minister, announcing to counter it a strong acceleration of the vaccine booster campaign. " 

 " added Boris Johnson. Everyone over 18 in England will be able to receive a third dose of the vaccine by the end of December, a month earlier than initially planned.

Earlier today, UK health officials raised the alert threshold from three to four, which is the second highest level. “

they said.

"

While the severity of Omicron is not yet known and " 

" officials note that there are " 

" hospitalizations due to Omicron and that it is "

" that their numbers "are"

”.

The total number of Omicron cases detected reached 3,137, an increase of 65% from the total of 1,898 cases recorded on Saturday 11 December.

Detected in the UK just over two weeks ago, Omicron should be the dominant variant within days, the government believes.

Telework and health pass

In addition, the Ministry of Health also announced this Sunday that from Tuesday, December 14, fully vaccinated contact cases of people testing positive for Covid-19 will also be requested to carry out antigenic tests daily for seven days.

Those who are not vaccinated must remain isolated for ten days.

Olivier Bouchaud (infectious disease specialist): “Boris Johnson had very questionable attitudes towards the epidemic

Anastasia becchio

These announcements come in addition to new measures presented by Boris Johnson, including the return to telework and the introduction of the health passport in certain places, measures which will be submitted to the vote of the deputies on Tuesday.

The United Kingdom is particularly affected by the pandemic with more than 146,000 deaths and some 50,000 new infections recorded every day.

Boris Johnson weakened by a "Christmas Party"

The health situation is deteriorating at a politically dangerous time for Boris Johnson.

The head of the Tory government is weakened by a series of scandals linked to supposed parties in Downing Street last winter, when the British were supposed to limit social interactions to prevent the spread of the virus.

At the center of criticism, a party which would have been organized in Downing Street on December 18, 2020 when the population was deprived of celebrations because of the coronavirus.

A video has been leaked showing employees of Boris Johnson joking about this " 

 ".

which did not fail to add fuel to the fire.

On Sunday, the

posted a photo of the Prime Minister in front of a screen in Downing Street.

He is surrounded by two collaborators, one with a garland around his neck and the other appearing to wear a Christmas hat, during a quiz which would have been organized on December 15, 2020.

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