UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that two people have tested positive with the Omicron variant in the southeastern English town of Chelmsford and in the central city of Nottingham. He said the cases were linked and related to travel from southern Africa.

Javid said the two confirmed cases are self-isolating alongside their households while contact tracing and targeted testing take place. He also said that arrivals from Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia will have to quarantine from Sunday onward and stressed the importance of booster jabs. “This is a real reminder that this pandemic is far from over,” he said. “If we need to take further action, we will.”