Featured image of post Omicron is ‘not the same disease’ as earlier Covid waves, says UK scientist | Omicron variant

Omicron is ‘not the same disease’ as earlier Covid waves, says UK scientist | Omicron variant

Sir John Bell says disease ‘appears less severe’ as other scientists criticise lack of new restrictions in England

Sir John Bell says disease ‘appears less severe’ as other scientists criticise lack of new restrictions in England

Summary

  • Omicron is “not the same disease we were seeing a year ago” and high Covid death rates in the UK are “now history”, a leading immunologist has said.
  • Fewer patients were needing high-flow oxygen and the average length of stay was down to three days, he said.
  • George Eustice, the environment secretary, said the government was keeping the level of Covid hospital admissions under “very close review”.
  • “This is a disease that’s not going away.
  • “If the self-isolation rules are what’s making the pain associated with Covid, then we need to do that perhaps sooner rather than later.