The Health Secretary has warned that the UK could see a million Omicron infections by the end of December in what could become a 'perilous winter'.
While the Prime Minister held a press conference at 6pm this evening (December 8), Sajid Javid was warning MPs in the House of Commons that Omicron is 'significantly more transmissible' than the Delta variant of coronavirus.
And while there have so far been 568 confirmed cases of the new variant identified in the UK, Mr Javid told MPs that the 'actual number of infections will be significantly higher'.
READ MORE: Rules around working from home as Boris Johnson announces Plan B to curb Omicron cases
He said: “The UK health security agency (HSA) estimates that the number of infections are approximately 20 times higher than the number of confirmed cases, and so the current number of infections is probably closer to 10,000.
“UKHSA also estimate that at the current observed doubling rate of between two and a half and three days, by the end of this month, infections could exceed one million.”
Mr Javid told MPs even with the protection of vaccines, the UK faces a 'perilous winter' ahead thanks to the Omicron variant.
He said Delta cases had doubled in around seven days, but for Omicron this was between 2.5 and three days, based on the data available.
"When we set out Plan B, we said that we would act if the NHS was likely to come under unsustainable pressure and with that risk of being able to provide the care and treatment that people need," he said.
"The Omicron variant has given us cause for concern.”
Speaking of the protection given by vaccines, he added: “Thanks to these defences and our decision to open up in the summer rather than the winter we are much better protected than we were this time last year and we need this protection now more than ever.
“Because although Omicron is becoming more and more prevalent, over the next few days and weeks we will be seeing Delta and Omicron variants circulating together.
"Facing these twin threats without these pharmaceutical defences would have been hard enough but even with them in place, we still face a perilous winter.”
Mr Javid was speaking as the Government confirmed its move to Plan B Covid restrictions, with people told they should work from home if they can as of next Monday.
Face masks will also be required in more indoor spaces across England from this Friday, while the Covid Pass will be required in some venues, including nightclubs.
