UK toll crosses 1.5L amid Omicron surge

London, January 9

The UK crossed another grim Covid milestone after recording 1,50,000 deaths since the pandemic hit the country in 2020, even as the Omicron variant surge continues with a further 1,46,390 daily infections and 313 deaths on Saturday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Covid pandemic has “taken a terrible toll on our country” as he renewed his appeal for people to get vaccinated and thanked the National Health Service (NHS) for its life-saving efforts.

“Each and every one of those is a profound loss to the families, friends, and communities and my thoughts and condolences are with them,” said Johnson.

“Our way out of this pandemic is for everyone to get their booster or their first or second dose if they haven’t yet. I want to thank everyone in the NHS and all volunteers who have come forward to help with our country’s vaccine programme,” he said.

Opposition Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer described the figure as a “dark milestone” for the UK. — PTI

Covid shadow over winter Olympics

Shenzhen: Tianjin began testing its population of around 14 million on Sunday after at least two local cases of Omicron variant were detected. The Tianjin outbreak poses risks to Beijing and Winter Olympics. Reuters

Nepal makes vax card mandatory

The Nepal government has decided to make vaccination cards compulsory to enter public places such as offices, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, stadiums, domestic flights and banks from January 17. The decision has been taken to tackle the fast- spreading Omicron virus. IANS