The first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant has been identified in Brighton & Hove, according to the city's health boss.
Close contacts of the person identified have been informed and are isolating, says Alistair Hill, the city council's director for public health.
According to Sky News, as of Tuesday, a total of 437 cases of Omicron have been identified - 333 in England, 99 in Scotland, five in Wales and none so far in Northern Ireland - an increase of 101 in 24 hours.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that cases of Omicron in people without any travel history have been confirmed in the UK, meaning it is now being transmitted within the community.
Omicron's ability to cause severe disease is not yet clear.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert, has said initial evidence suggests the variant could be less severe, with fewer hospital admissions and less need for ventilators.
But he also warned that scientists will only have enough data to make more definitive conclusions in a few weeks.
In the meantime, health bosses in Brighton and Hove have been regularly urging the public to get their booster jabs via the city council's website.
Figures published yesterday (Tuesday 7th) show that in the seven days up to Friday, December 3, there were 1,875 new Covid cases in the city.
The rate of new cases over those seven days rose from 536 to 643 for every 100,000 people in Brighton and Hove.
The walk-in vaccination centre at Churchill Square has now stopped walk-ins and will work on an appointment-based distribution of the vaccination for the foreseeable future.
Late last week director for public health in the city, Alistair Hill said:
“Covid cases in the city have risen and are now higher than the average for England.
“The more we are out mixing with other households, the higher our chances of catching and spreading coronavirus, especially in crowded or enclosed spaces where there is limited fresh air or more people who might be infectious.
“This includes when we’re meeting friends for drinks, out shopping, or going to events leading up to Christmas.
“In these situations, we should be particularly careful to keep following the advice to protect each other from all Covid variants. And please encourage the people you’re meeting to do the same.
“Let’s do what we can to keep Brighton & Hove safe for everyone.”
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