Omicron variant infections climb to 32 in the UK

Nine more cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been identified in England and one in Scotland, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.

It takes the UK total to 32 - 22 in England and 10 in Scotland.

The UKHSA said it has now identified cases of the Omicron variant in the East Midlands, East of England, London, the South East and North West.

The Scottish cases we know about are in Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Dr Jenny Harries, UKHSA chief executive, said: "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.

"That's why it's critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately."

Sources:CGTN