BORIS Johnson is set to address the nation TONIGHT as fears over the Omicron variant continue to grow.

The Prime Minister will speak at a press conference at 8pm to give an update on the booster programme and encourage Brits to get their life-saving jabs.

It's understood the PM is set to make major announcement on booster campaign and launch a "national vaccination mission" to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

He is expected to warn that the strain will soon become the dominant variant of coronavirus in the UK – but is not expected to announce any new Covid restrictions.

But with the UK's Covid alert level today rising to four as Omicron cases continue to spike, the PM will address the nation on the spread of the variant and give an update on the jab rollout.

The alert was hiked to the second highest level, meaning transmission of the virus is "high" and pressure on the NHS is "widespread and substantial or rising".

The UK's Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National Medical Director recommended the alert level was raised as Omicron poses "a rapidly increasing risk to the public and healthcare services".

A move to level five would mean there was a "material risk" of healthcare services being overwhelmed.

Most read in The Sun

On Wednesday, the PM addressed the nation to unveil Plan B – making mask-wearing compulsory in some indoor settings and introducing vaccine passports.

But some fear-mongering scientists have said that more action needs to be taken before Christmas.

Read our Omicron live blog for the latest updates

Today, Omicron cases rose by 65 per cent in 24 hours as Brits were urged to get their life-saving Covid booster jabs.

An additional 1,239 cases of Omicron have been recorded today, bringing the total number of confirmed variant cases to 3,137.

The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) said cases of the mutation have increased in the last day as fears continue to grow over Omicron.

Yesterday, 633 new cases of the variant were recorded – which means mutation cases are on the rise with today's 1,239 infections.

On Saturday there were a further 54,073 Covid-19 infections reported, bringing the total to 10,771,444.

There were 132 more deaths, bringing the total number of Covid-19 fatalities to 146,387.

However, the health agency provided the first UK-based batch of evidence on vaccine efficacy against the strain – showing that three shots were far more protective than two.

And boosters will be the key to protecting your loved ones this festive season – as The Sun's Jabs Army campaign calls for Brits to get their third vaccine.

With the growing number of cases, MPs have allegedly been warned to be "on standby" to vote on new restrictions during Christmas week.

Plan C may be enacted before Christmas as MPs have been told to prepare for a Parliament recall on December 21 if the Covid situation spirals, it's been reported.

OMI DAYS

Meanwhile, Sajid Javid has been told to trigger Plan C restrictions within a WEEK by gloomy health officials, it's been reported.

The Health Secretary was allegedly told by doom-mongers at the UK Health and Security Agency that Omicron risks overwhelming the NHS as 5,000 Brits could be admitted to hospital a day.

However – a third jab can combat Omicron and save us from more lockdown pain, says a morale-boosting study.

Any two doses plus a Pfizer booster give up to 75 per cent protection, experts say.

Three shots also defend better against severe disease or death — but two doses will soon fail to prevent even a third of cases.

Mr Javid said: “This data shows how important boosters are.”

Mary Ramsay, jabs chief at the UKHSA, said: “These early estimates show that, a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching Omicron compared to Delta.

“But the data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine.

“We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of Covid-19.”

Source: Read Full Article