Omicron is set to be the dominant coronavirus strain in London by Tuesday

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The Omicron variant is set to become the dominant strain of coronavirus in London just weeks after it was first detected in the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the strain would be responsible for the majority of infections in the capital by Tuesday, and warned of a “tidal wave” of cases across the country.

It comes as London saw more than 55,000 confirmed cases of Covid in a week with the number of infections rising among people in their 20s.

Nearly 10,000 cases were announced Sunday for the capital as the Omicron variant spreads “rapidly.”

It is now estimated that up to 40 per cent of coronavirus infections in London are Omicron which scientists believe will avoid vaccines to some extent, although they still hope it will prevent severe illness for most people.

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London’s head of public health Professor Kevin Fenton stressed that the “reality” of the “emergency in the fight against the Omicron variant” was now being “felt felt” in the capital.

In the past seven days, 55,553 cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the city.

Infections have been increasing rapidly especially in recent weeks among school-aged children and adults in their early forties, a sign that the virus runs in families.

But the analysis now shows that the biggest rise in infections is among Londoners in their 20s.

The seven-day rate for Londoners aged 20-24 rose 76 percent, between November 30 and December 7, to 541.3 confirmed cases per 100,000 in this group, and for Londoners aged 25-29, the jump The rate is 67 percent to 606.8. The next largest increase was 42 percent for 30-34-year-olds, reaching 566.6, and the highest rate for 10- to 14-year-olds remains at 992.8, although this was only a 3.9 percent rise, followed by Five to nine years. In the 824.3-year-old age group, an increase of 11 percent, for people aged 15-19, the rate rose 20 percent to 630, and the 35-39-year-old saw a 35-percent rise to 579.3, And from 40 to 44 years old. 22 percent to 706.6, and from 45 to 49 years old 17 percent to 602.6.

Professor Fenton said: “The nation faces an emergency in the battle against the Omicron variant, and the reality of that is being felt here in London where it accounts for around 4 in 10 Covid cases sent for sequencing and is rapidly increasing in frequency.

“Our Covid rates are now higher than the last peak in the summer and are increasing day by day.

“Covid case rates in general continue to rise among school-age children and those in their forties, but we are now seeing significant growth in people in their 20s followed by those in their 30s, which indicates that the virus is spreading again. In youth, and the broader population of working-age adults, who may mix in a variety of work and social settings.

“For this reason, it is essential that all people over the age of 18 have a booster vaccine by the end of December and a LFD (lateral flow device) test before social contact.

“Two doses of a vaccine aren’t enough, but a booster gives us the best chance of fending off this Omicron wave.”

Ministers are seeking to significantly intensify the booster programme, as well as urging the unvaccinated to get the first and second doses.

There were 1,193 coronavirus patients in London hospitals as of Friday, with 201 so sick they were on ventilators; Both numbers have been rising gradually in recent times.

So far, 6,210,527 first doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered in London, 5,626,931 second doses, and 2,270,764 boosters or third hits to individuals exposed to the virus.

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