A case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been confirmed in north Norfolk.

It is one of eight new cases confirmed in England today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as consistent with the new variant.

The individual that has tested positive and their contacts are isolating.

Work is underway to identify any links to travel to southern Africa.

In addition to the five previous confirmed cases, the total of Omicron cases in England is now 13.

Cases have now been confirmed in; Barnet, Brentwood, Camden, Haringey, Liverpool, north Norfolk, Nottingham, Sutton, Wandsworth, and Westminster.

Nine cases have also been identified in Scotland, with five cases in the Lanarkshire area and four in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Dr Jenny Harries, the chief executive of UKHSA, said: “We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.

“Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant – please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay.

“Following the change in JCVI advice yesterday, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended at a minimum of three months from your last primary course jab. Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities.

“Please make sure to wear a mask in line with government guidance, including on public transport and in shops, to help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant.

“It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focused contact tracing. That’s why it’s critical that anyone with Covid-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.”