Surge in Omicron cases could spark new WFH orders, health chief warns

A SURGE in Omicron cases would force new working from home orders, a health chief warned this morning.

Dr Jenny Harries said Plan B – which includes whisking people out of their offices and back to home desks – would be sensible if more cases emerge.

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Infections in the UK have tripled in a matter of days after the mutant variant reached the country last week.

There are now 14 confirmed cases, with scientists expecting hundreds more to pop up.

While a serious surge is yet to emerge, the super strain with multiple mutations has left experts worried.

Restrictions have come back in from today on mask wearing and returning back to the UK from abroad, with concerns more could be slapped on Brits to stop the spread.

Dr Harries told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) “has shown that if we have significant surges in Covid cases, then actually working from home is one of the key ones to implement and that’s why it is in Plan B”.

She added: “But it’s probably worth just thinking through at the moment; although I’m sure we will have more cases announced, we do only have five confirmed cases (of the new Omicron variant in England) and 10 highly probable at the moment.

“So it’s a very early stage for this, I think, but certainly, if we see surges, then working from home will be a good thing to do.”

She suggested people reduce their social contacts as much as possible to stop the spread and keep Christmas on track.

Speaking earlier about vaccine effectiveness, she said it is highly likely that the UK’s vaccination programme will be beneficial in the face of the Omicron variant but experts also expect vaccine effectiveness to be reduced.

Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon said Scots should work from home immediately, sparking worries England could follow suit.

Andrea Andrades, a private healthcare nurse, revealed her worries about the new variant.

She said: “I don’t know what the new variant can do to me or my family.”

Becoming emotional, she described what she would say to the people who do not wear face masks: “Help us. I don’t want to live the same experience again.

“For me and my colleagues it’s hard to come back to reality because we feel anti-social right now as we’re scared for everyone. Please don’t forget about that – about our sacrifice. Just be responsible.”

To beat the spread, Brits who fail to wear a mask in shops and on public transport face a maximum fine of £6,400 from today. 

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Penalties of £200 will be handed to people in England who don’t wear a face covering under new Government rules to crack down on the Omicron Covid variant.

It comes as another Christmas lockdown hasn’t been ruled out as a last resort to tackle Omicron – as Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted we must “learn to live” with Covid.

Brits have been urged to get their third jabs and start self-testing regularly to help avoid further restrictions over the festive period.

As well as shops, buses trains and trams, masks must also be worn in hairdressers, nail salons, banks and post offices in England under new curbs from 4am.

Masks won’t be required in the hospitality sector, meaning they aren’t needed in restaurants and pubs, or by law in venues like concerts, cinemas and theatres. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended England’s new coronavirus rules, which came into force on Tuesday morning.

“The measures taking effect today are proportionate and responsible, and will buy us time in the face of this new (Omicron) variant,” he said.

Asked about the prospect of Christmas plans being called off, Professor Paul Moss, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told Sky News: “I don’t think we need to worry too much about that at this stage… the measures that we got in place have a good chance of gaining some control here.

“The two ways that we’re adopting to try and control this are: one, in behavioural change to reduce transmission: the travel restrictions; more lateral flows; masking.

“And the second big factor is the immunity and we know that we may lose some immunity with this virus. So what is happening is we are boosting our immune levels to super-high levels with the plans that were introduced yesterday, and that should retain some protection.

“What we’ve seen with Covid is that things change very rapidly. And I think we need at least three weeks to assess this.”

He added: “You probably saw that the doctor in South Africa who initially identified it had seen relatively mild cases, which is very encouraging.

“However, you know, that’s a much younger population.

“It’s the elderly population, we need to worry about – in South Africa only six per cent are above 65 years whereas we’ve got a much higher proportion.”