OMICRON: URGENT HUNT FOR COVID cases linked to KFC restaurant and school in Essex

A primary school and a KFC restaurant in Brentwood, Essex, are linked to a case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. (Reach)A primary school and a KFC restaurant in Brentwood, Essex, are linked to a case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. (Reach)MoreHealth officials are hunting for anyone linked to a person infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus who visited a school, a church and a KFC restaurant.Nine cases of the new COVID-19 variant had been identified in the UK as of Monday morning, one of which was in the Brentwood area of Essex.WWFOn Monday, officials there said pupils and staff at a primary school are being tested, while visitors to a nearby KFC are also being urged to take a PCR test immediately. But Essex County Council said a number of other sites are being targeted for testing, including a church.The person in Essex infected with the Omicron variant was said to be isolating with their family and not seriously ill or requiring hospitalisation.Six cases of the Omicron variant, first identified in South Africa last week, have been detected in Scotland, it was announced on Monday.Another three cases have been found in England – one in Essex, another in Nottingham and a third in a person who had visited Westminster in London but who is no longer in the UK.On Monday, Essex County Council said pupils and staff at Larchwood Primary School in Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, are being tested after a link was found with the new Omicron variant.Trinity Church in Pilgrims Hatch is also the focus of targeted testing, the council said.A joint statement from the council and the school said both were working with the UK Health and Security Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care to “take necessary precautionary action to prevent the spread”.It said: “This includes making specialist testing available for all pupils and school staff and confirming arrangements for remote learning for one class.”We appreciate that this is an unsettling time for parents, pupils and the school community but we take the time to remind everyone that this is a precautionary measure.”Essex director of public health, Dr Michael Gogarty, told BBC Breakfast: “What we’re doing is we’re throwing the net very wide in terms of requesting people who attended these places at the particular times to get tested as soon as possible.“Within the school, we are actually excluding one school group as close contacts, but with the rest of the school group we would wish them to get tested and we are arranging for that testing to happen.“Some sought it yesterday, and the rest will happen today.”Dr Gogarty said “there are a number of sites we are looking at” where people had contact with the person infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus.Testing is being carried out at Larchwood Primary School in Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex. (Reach)Testing is being carried out at Larchwood Primary School in Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, Essex. (Reach)More“One you would be aware of is the KFC in Brentwood,” he said: “There’s also a faith setting and a school setting.”Dr Gogarty said the person infected with the Omicron variant is “well” and isolating with their family.“Most importantly, with the confirmed case is that they are well, they are isolating with their family,” he said.“When I say that they are well, I mean they are not seriously ill.Visitors to a KFC restaurant in Brentwood High Street in Essex on 19 November have been asked to take a PCR test immediately. (Reach)Visitors to a KFC restaurant in Brentwood High Street in Essex on 19 November have been asked to take a PCR test immediately. (Reach)More“They have some symptoms but they do not require hospitalisation.”Essex County Council has said the Brentwood case is linked to the other infection in Nottingham, with that individual understood to have arrived from southern Africa before coming into contact with the person in Essex.Visitors to the KFC on Brentwood High Street between 1pm and 5pm on Friday 19 November are being urged to take a PCR test immediately.Members of the congregation who visited Trinity Church in Pilgrims Hatch on 21 November were issued with the same call by Essex County Council.They are being urged to attend mobile testing units, for drive-through appointments only.Of the six Omicron variant cases identified in Scotland, four are in the Lanarkshire area and two in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.Scotland’s deputy first minister, John Swinney, said some of the cases identified have no travel history, which suggests there is a degree of community transmission.On Saturday, in response to the arrival of the Omicron variant in the UK, prime minister Boris Johnson announced that face masks will be made compulsory on public transport and in shops in England from Tuesday. Yahoo