Several schools have now been affected by the Omicron variant in Milton Keynes with over 15% of cases now being reported as the Omicron variant.
A spokesperson said: “There have been suspected cases linked to a number of schools in MK, which reflects that the Omicron variant is now widespread in the local community. Over 15% of local cases are the Omicron variant.”
Last week, the first four cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in Milton Keynes. All four of the first Milton Keynes Omicron cases had links to travel.
The situation is being closely monitored by the local public health team and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and it is expected that the number of Omicron cases locally will rise sharply, in line with the national picture.
Residents are being urged to take sensible precautions to prevent spread such as wearing face coverings and taking regular lateral flow tests.
Director of Public Health for Milton Keynes, Vicky Head said: “There are many unknowns about the new variant, but we do know vaccination remains critical to reduce the chance of severe illness. Being vaccinated remains the single biggest thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 and your booster will give you vital extra protection.
"However, vaccination alone isn’t enough, and it’s more important than ever to keep up with precautions like wearing a face covering, taking regular tests even if you feel well, and making sure you ventilate indoor spaces when meeting with others.”
From today, in response to the Omicron variant, the next part of Plan B is taking force across England, the new measures require proof of double-vaccination or a negative PCR or lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours for those attending some venues.
This comes as 513 cases were recorded yesterday (14/12), taking the total for the borough since the beginning of the pandemic to 46,938. This is a huge jump from last week which saw an average of 210 cases a day.
