December 10

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his government will introduce tighter COVID-19 restrictions in England to counter the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

The announcement came on Wednesday as the government confirmed a total of 568 cases of the new variant across the UK by that day.

Johnson said the government will extend its mask mandate to most public indoor venues, including theaters, on Friday.

The government will also require people entering nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather to present proof of vaccination.

Johnson said the government will keep people safe while minimizing disruption to their daily lives, suggesting that he is not considering restrictions on the operation of pubs and restaurants.

The government says the severity of symptoms caused by the variant is not yet clear, but warns that the medical system might be overloaded if the variant spreads rapidly and puts many people in severe health conditions.

It plans to accelerate its vaccination campaign while trying to slow the spread of the variant through tougher anti-infection measures.

The government also announced on Wednesday that it started using molnupiravir, an oral drug for treating COVID-19, on those at risk of serious illness after testing positive for the virus.

The government says the drug is given to patients trying to recuperate at home, and plans to monitor them to further study its effectiveness.

The pill was developed by US pharmaceutical maker Merck. The firm says the drug can cut the risk of hospitalization and death by 30 percent among high-risk patients.

NHK