Covid: Third case of Omicron variant discovered linked to London

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the individual tested positive for the Covid-19 variant after travelling to the UK and it is linked to travel to southern Africa.

It said the individual is no longer in the UK, but targeted testing is being carried out at locations the person visited when they were likely to have been infectious.

It added that while in the UK, the individual was in Westminster, central London.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of UKHSA, said: “Our advanced sequencing capabilities enable us to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread. It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days, as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focused contact tracing.

“We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.

“It’s critical that anyone with Covid-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.

“Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant – please get your first, second or booster jab without delay.

“Wear a mask in crowded places, including public transport and shops, to ensure we all help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant.”