Health

UK records 14 omicron-related deaths, 129 hospitalized with new COVID-19 variant

There are currently 129 people in hospital with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and so far, 14 people have died with it, junior health minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News on Wednesday.

Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.

She also said the UK government would not hesitate to bring in further COVID-19 restrictions if the data showed it was necessary.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that he would not introduce new restrictions in England before Christmas, but the situation remained extremely difficult and the government might need to act afterwards.

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WHO reports major increase in sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis are on the rise in most regions of the world, UN health agency WHO said in a new report on Tuesday.