Here’s how many cases of Omicron have been found in Birmingham

Birmingham has three confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, latest data published by the UK Health Security Agency has revealed.

The data, published on 10 December, is the first time the agency has provided the number of cases at a local authority level in a week, and covers the period up to Monday 6 December.

The latest government figures also reveal there are a further nineteen cases of Omicron in Birmingham which are suspected, with further testing taking place for the variant.

Elsewhere in the county, Sandwell has two confirmed cases, with six suspected.

Solihull has no confirmed cases yet, but there are three suspected.

Nationally, about one in six positive PCR tests are sent for further testing to determine which variant they are - a process which can take many days.

Another, quicker method is to look for a marker called the S-gene in positive tests, which is missing in variants such as Omicron.

Once identified, swabs without S-gene can be sent for definitive testing for Omicron.

Public urged to get boosters

Boris Johnson has brought forward the target of giving every adult in England a booster jab by a month amid mounting concerns over a wave of Omicron cases that could cause “very many deaths”.

In a pre-recorded address to the nation on Sunday night (12 December), the Prime Minister said that Britain “must urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection” and called on everyone to “get boosted now”.

He said that all eligible adults will be offered a booster vaccination by the end of December. The previous target for this was the end of January - and this week, the booster programme is being opened up to over-18s who have had their second dose at least three months ago.

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