With eleven cases of the new Covid-19 strain Omicron detected in the United Kingdom, Barnet residents have been reminded to get vaccinated and continue taking lateral flow tests.

Barnet Council issued a statement earlier today saying that “we have the tools we need” to tackle new strains of the coronavirus. The council urged residents that one in three people infected with coronavirus is asymptomatic and so lateral flow tests are still a vital tool to protect the community.

Omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus, was first detected in South Africa and has now started to spread. Medical researchers are still identifying how resilient a vaccinated population will be against this new strain and are researching the possibility that symptoms could be more severe than previous strains.

Amidst the ongoing uncertainty, Dr Tamara Djuretic, Barnet’s director of public health has reassured residents that the population are prepared to tackle this new variant. She said:

“I want to reassure everyone, at this worrying time, that new variants tend to emerge when rates of the virus are still high around the world. However, almost two years into the pandemic, we together have all the necessary tools that we need to reduce their spread.

“Experts are still investigating whether the new variant is more infectious or vaccines are any less effective against it but we do know, for sure, that getting both jabs and your booster, when eligible, will offer significant protection from getting really sick from the virus and reduce your risk of passing it on.”

According to the latest data, nearly two-thirds of people in Barnet have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The latest figures show 244,718 people had received both jabs by 28th November – 64% of those aged 12 and over, based on the number of people on the National Immunisation Management Service database.

Djuretic continued: “How we go about our daily lives will also have a strong impact. Wearing a face covering in indoor public spaces, ensuring that fresh air circulates in rooms when gathering indoors and regularly washing hands reduces the spread. 

“If you do feel unwell with a symptom of the virus you must isolate immediately and get a PCR test. You would be notified if you have a confirmed or probable case of the Omicron variant and self-isolation is really important.

“If you have been identified as a close contact of someone with the Omicron variant then you must get a PCR test and isolate immediately, regardless of your vaccination status and age. This is in order to reduce potential spread to others.  

“Following these sensible actions will make a difference. They can reduce the spread of any infection and keep us and our loved ones safe in the run up to Christmas. 

“Please act now for a safe and healthy new year.”