State of Emergency Declared in London as Omicron Variant Infections Rise

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a state of emergency amid a surge in infections from the coronavirus 'Omicron' variant.

"I have decided to declare a state of emergency starting today after consulting with my colleagues," the Mayor stated. "We are extremely concerned about the significant rise in Omicron cases. In the last 24 hours, we have seen the highest number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic in the country," Khan explained.

He added that hospitalizations are also on the rise, leading to a shortage of healthcare staff. According to the British health authorities, by December 17, over 93,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in one day, marking the highest daily total of the pandemic.

As of December 18, the total number of infections with the Omicron variant has exceeded 24,000.