In a milestone for one of the worst affected countries in Europe, the deaths in the United Kingdom due to coronavirus topped 150,000 on Saturday.

The government reported that deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test had reached 150,057 since the start of the pandemic. Russia is the only European country with a higher death toll.

The UK is racing to offer booster shots to adults across the country after research showed that two doses were not enough to protect people from Omicron.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/300-million-covid-19-cases-reported-worldwide-amid-omicron-surge-443046" hreflang="en">300 million COVID-19 cases reported worldwide amid Omicron surge</a>

Britain has seen a surge of cases linked to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in recent weeks, though death rates have been lower than during previous waves of the disease.

Some 1.227 million people tested positive for COVID-19 during the past week, 10.6 per cent&nbsp;more than the week before, while the number of deaths was up 38.3 per cent&nbsp;on a week before at 1,271.

Meanwhile, Britain's health secretary Sajid Javid was challenged by a doctor during a visit to a London hospital, who told him that the science was "not strong enough" to justify rules that health workers must be vaccinated.

The British government wants all National Health Service (NHS) staff who have direct contact with patients to have their first vaccination by February 3. If staff fail to comply, they risk losing their job.

When speaking to staff at King's College Hospital Javid asked staff what they thought of the new rules, consultant anaesthethetist, Steve James spoke up. He told the minister that he did not want to get the vaccination, and that he already had antibodies from contracting COVID-19.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-more-infectious-than-delta-experts-reveal-why-the-variant-is-affecting-kids-442963" hreflang="en">Omicron more infectious than Delta? Experts reveal why the variant is affecting kids</a>

Two years into a pandemic, its state-run health service was already facing a morale and staffing crisis even before the recent surge in Omicron.

The report said that the staffing crisis could derail efforts to catch-up with record waiting lists for elective treatment caused by COVID-19 disruption.

Rising staff absences at UK&nbsp;hospitals have already prompted the military to provide backup to beleaguered doctors and nurses.

More than 39,000 staff members at hospitals in England were off work for reasons related to COVID-19 on January 2, up 59 per cent from the previous week, according to NHS England.

UK government advisers have recommended against giving a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and people over 80 because data shows that a third shot offers lasting protection against admission to the hospital.

For people over 65, protection against hospitalisation remains at about 90 per cent&nbsp;three months after the third dose, according to data compiled by the UK&nbsp;Health Security Agency.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a milestone for one of the worst affected countries in Europe, the deaths in the United Kingdom due to coronavirus topped 150,000 on Saturday. The government reported that deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test had reached 150,057 since the start of the pandemic.

In a milestone for one of the worst affected countries in Europe, the deaths in the United Kingdom due to coronavirus topped 150,000 on Saturday. The government reported that deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test had reached 150,057 since the start of the pandemic. Russia is the only European country with a higher death toll. The UK is racing to offer booster shots to adults across the country after research showed that two doses were not enough to protect people from Omicron. Also read | 300 million COVID-19 cases reported worldwide amid Omicron surge Britain has seen a surge of cases linked to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in recent weeks, though death rates have been lower than during previous waves of the disease. Some 1.227 million people tested positive for COVID-19 during the past week, 10.6 per cent more than the week before, while the number of deaths was up 38.3 per cent on a week before at 1,271. Meanwhile, Britain's health secretary Sajid Javid was challenged by a doctor during a visit to a London hospital, who told him that the science was "not strong enough" to justify rules that health workers must be vaccinated. The British government wants all National Health Service (NHS) staff who have direct contact with patients to have their first vaccination by February 3. If staff fail to comply, they risk losing their job. When speaking to staff at King's College Hospital Javid asked staff what they thought of the new rules, consultant anaesthethetist, Steve James spoke up. He told the minister that he did not want to get the vaccination, and that he already had antibodies from contracting COVID-19. Also read | Omicron more infectious than Delta? Experts reveal why the variant is affecting kids Two years into a pandemic, its state-run health service was already facing a morale and staffing crisis even before the recent surge in Omicron. The report said that the staffing crisis could derail efforts to catch-up with record waiting lists for elective treatment caused by COVID-19 disruption. Rising staff absences at UK hospitals have already prompted the military to provide backup to beleaguered doctors and nurses. More than 39,000 staff members at hospitals in England were off work for reasons related to COVID-19 on January 2, up 59 per cent from the previous week, according to NHS England. UK government advisers have recommended against giving a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and people over 80 because data shows that a third shot offers lasting protection against admission to the hospital. For people over 65, protection against hospitalisation remains at about 90 per cent three months after the third dose, according to data compiled by the UK Health Security Agency. (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Coronavirus deaths top 150,000, British government asks NHS to get vaccinated by February 3

Leisure sites such as drive-in cinemas, safari parks and the outdoor parts of zoos will now be able to reopen, while places of worship are also set to swing open their doors again for individual prayer.

All sites will need to comply with social distancing rules requiring people to keep at least two metres (six feet) apart and advising them to wear face coverings such as masks or scarves when indoors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-police-to-not-take-action-against-pm-johnsons-advisor-cummings-301610">UK police to not take action against PM Johnson's advisor Cummings</a>

Meanwhile, the coverings will be compulsory on public transport across England from Monday, with operators allowed to bar travel to those not wearing them.&nbsp;

"I know people are anxious," finance minister Rishi Sunak said Sunday as he encouraged shopping to help kickstart an economy seeing unprecedented declines.

"It's a slightly different experience... but it is a safe environment and we should all be able to go out knowing that we should be able to shop in confidence," he told Sky News.

'Adapt'&nbsp;

Non-essential shops in Northern Ireland reopened Friday, but Scotland and Wales have not yet decided when to follow suit, as Britain's devolved governments lift restrictions at different speeds.

The non-essential retail sector employs 1.3 million people and contributes £46.6 billion ($58.4 billion, 52 billion euros) to the British economy annually, according to the finance ministry, and its restart is viewed as economically vital.

Streets have been cleaned, footpaths widened and hand-sanitising stations installed in London's West End commercial district ahead of Monday.

But Jace Tyrrell, CEO of New West End Company, a partnership of 600 British and international operators in the area, predicted it will be "quite some time until we get back to normal".

"Retailers are going to have to adapt," she told AFP.&nbsp;

Britain has been among the worst-hit countries by the pandemic, with the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 deaths passing 50,000 last week, according to official statistics.

The government's less comprehensive rolling daily death count of those who have tested positive for the virus stands at nearly 42,000.

Despite the grim tolls, the transmission rate has dropped dramatically since the pandemic's peak in Britain in early April.

But the lockdown that helped turn that tide shrank the economy by one-fifth that month, official data showed Friday, stoking fears of a painful recession.

The OECD last week predicted the British economy was on course to shrink by more than 11 per cent in 2020 because of COVID-19.

'Margin for manoeuvre'&nbsp;

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has faced heavy criticism over his handling of the crisis, has set out a phased lifting of restrictions.

Outdoor markets and car showrooms reopened at the start of the month, when some younger children also returned to schools.

But his government drew ridicule last week after conceding it could not deliver on a plan to have all primary school children back for a month before the summer holidays.

Johnson has delayed reopening pubs and restaurants, the next stage in easing, until July 4 at the earliest.

Relaxing social distancing from the current two-metre requirement is seen as the only way for most of those businesses to operate viably, with proponents of easing the rule noting that other countries are adopting smaller distances.

Johnson confirmed Sunday he will review the measure as he faces growing pressure to ease it.

"You start to build some more margin for manoeuvre and we'll be looking at that and we'll be keeping it under constant review as we go forward to the next step in our plan," he said during a visit to a shopping centre in east London.

But he added: "What I don't want to do is sacrifice the huge efforts of the British people in beating this disease." 
&nbsp;

Leisure sites such as drive-in cinemas, safari parks and the outdoor parts of zoos will now be able to reopen, while places of worship are also set to swing open their doors again for individual prayer.

Leisure sites such as drive-in cinemas, safari parks and the outdoor parts of zoos will now be able to reopen, while places of worship are also set to swing open their doors again for individual prayer. All sites will need to comply with social distancing rules requiring people to keep at least two metres (six feet) apart and advising them to wear face coverings such as masks or scarves when indoors. Also read | UK police to not take action against PM Johnson's advisor Cummings Meanwhile, the coverings will be compulsory on public transport across England from Monday, with operators allowed to bar travel to those not wearing them. "I know people are anxious," finance minister Rishi Sunak said Sunday as he encouraged shopping to help kickstart an economy seeing unprecedented declines. "It's a slightly different experience... but it is a safe environment and we should all be able to go out knowing that we should be able to shop in confidence," he told Sky News. 'Adapt' Non-essential shops in Northern Ireland reopened Friday, but Scotland and Wales have not yet decided when to follow suit, as Britain's devolved governments lift restrictions at different speeds. The non-essential retail sector employs 1.3 million people and contributes £46.6 billion ($58.4 billion, 52 billion euros) to the British economy annually, according to the finance ministry, and its restart is viewed as economically vital. Streets have been cleaned, footpaths widened and hand-sanitising stations installed in London's West End commercial district ahead of Monday. But Jace Tyrrell, CEO of New West End Company, a partnership of 600 British and international operators in the area, predicted it will be "quite some time until we get back to normal". "Retailers are going to have to adapt," she told AFP. Britain has been among the worst-hit countries by the pandemic, with the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 deaths passing 50,000 last week, according to official statistics. The government's less comprehensive rolling daily death count of those who have tested positive for the virus stands at nearly 42,000. Despite the grim tolls, the transmission rate has dropped dramatically since the pandemic's peak in Britain in early April. But the lockdown that helped turn that tide shrank the economy by one-fifth that month, official data showed Friday, stoking fears of a painful recession. The OECD last week predicted the British economy was on course to shrink by more than 11 per cent in 2020 because of COVID-19. 'Margin for manoeuvre' Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has faced heavy criticism over his handling of the crisis, has set out a phased lifting of restrictions. Outdoor markets and car showrooms reopened at the start of the month, when some younger children also returned to schools. But his government drew ridicule last week after conceding it could not deliver on a plan to have all primary school children back for a month before the summer holidays. Johnson has delayed reopening pubs and restaurants, the next stage in easing, until July 4 at the earliest. Relaxing social distancing from the current two-metre requirement is seen as the only way for most of those businesses to operate viably, with proponents of easing the rule noting that other countries are adopting smaller distances. Johnson confirmed Sunday he will review the measure as he faces growing pressure to ease it. "You start to build some more margin for manoeuvre and we'll be looking at that and we'll be keeping it under constant review as we go forward to the next step in our plan," he said during a visit to a shopping centre in east London. But he added: "What I don't want to do is sacrifice the huge efforts of the British people in beating this disease."

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