British scientists say the government may need to introduce tougher restrictions to slow the growth of the Omicron variant and prevent a new surge in Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths, AP reports.

UK health officials say Omicron is spreading much more quickly than the Delta strain and is likely to replace it and become the dominant variant in Britain within days. The UK has recorded 58,194 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest number since January, though what portion were the Omicron variant is unclear.

Concerns about the new variant led Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative government to reintroduce restrictions that were lifted almost six months ago. Masks must be worn in most indoor settings, vaccine certificates must be shown to enter nightclubs and people are being urged to work from home if possible.

Many scientists say that’s unlikely to be enough.

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