Britain builds Omicron contingency plans for workplaces & schools

The record-breaking spike in Coronavirus cases in the U.K. has forced the government to undertake contingency plans in case schools, hospitals, and other workplaces are hit by major staff shortages.

The public segment workplaces are constantly preparing for the absence of staff, which can be expected between 10% to 25% as COVID-19 outbreak hits leading to more people falling sick and forcing them to be isolated, said the Cabinet Office.

The new variant Omicron, which is highly transmissible, has escalated the daily reported cases to a new high of 189,000 on December 31 during the Christmas and New Year Celebration. Furthermore, approximately 137,583 new cases and 73 deaths were reported from England and Wales on January 2nd.

The Office of National Statistics estimated that about 2 million (nearly 1 in 25 people) in England had COVID-19 before the Christmas week. Imperatively, the figure was 1 in 15 in London.

Cabinet Office Minister, Stephen Barclay remarked that the country was already witnessing significant absenteeism, and the government is preparing for every event that can occur eventually.

It is important to take the necessary steps and be prepared with measures that can help in mitigating those impacts, said Barclay.

The Ministers have alluded to increased support for testing more viruses, better ventilation in workplaces and schools, and enrolling formers teachers and even volunteers to avoid absences which could help not impact schools.

It has been reported that the number of patients with the virus requiring hospital treatment is very low compared to new infections. However, last week it reached its highest level since February 2021.

The government's drive to deliver COVID-19 boosters has now perceived over 50% of the population taking the third dose.

Moreover, more than 13.1 million infections and more than 149,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 have been reported from the U.K., the second-highest death toll in Europe after Russia.

Source Credit - https://www.businesstoday.in/coronavirus/story/omicron-variant-uk-makes-contingency-plans-for-hospitals-schools-other-workplaces-317637-2022-01-03