More Omicron cases confirmed in Buckinghamshire
Vaccination is said to be "critical" to help bolster defences against the new variant
Last updated 3rd Dec 2021
More cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been confirmed in Buckinghamshire.
The first case in the county was confirmed on Wednesday (1 December).
There was also a confirmed case of the variant in Hertfordshire, with a second case ‘suspected’.
Updated numbers now show that a total of 2 cases in Buckinghamshire and 1 in Chiltern have been identified by the UK Health Security Agency.
They are among 29 confirmed cases in England.
Targeted testing is being carried out by UKHSA at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious.
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:
"We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.
"Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant – please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay.
"Following the change in JCVI advice earlier this week, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended and will be available at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab.
"Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities.
"Please make sure to wear a mask in line with government guidance, including on public transport and in shops, to help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant.
"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."