Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to make an urgent statement later today after the first cases of Omicron Variant Covid were found in the UK.
The press conference is expected at 5pm with Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says two cases were found in Nottingham and Chelmsford. The two people are linked and had been travelling.
The two cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant have been discovered in Chelmsford and in Nottingham, the Department of Health & Social Care said.
The individuals that have tested positive, and all members of their households, are being re-tested and told to self-isolate while further testing and contact tracing is under way, it said.
“The UK Health Security Agency is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious,” the department said.
“In response to the developing situation, the UK is taking decisive action to protect public health. Confirmed cases and contacts are being followed up and requested to isolate and get tested as necessary.”
The Government has ordered enhanced testing in the surrounding areas.
The UK has banned travel to and from six southern African nations after the discovery of the variant last week.
There are fears it could spread ,ore rapidly than previous variants and defeat vaccines because of its high number of mutations.
