UK calls for volunteers to battle wave of omicron infections

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is calling for thousands of volunteers to staff new vaccination centers in shopping areas, stadiums and racecourses as the government accelerates its booster program to combat the omicron coronavirus variant.

The drive comes two days after Johnson set a target of giving booster shots to all adults by the end of this year to stem the tide of omicron. U.K. health authorities say the number of omicron infections is doubling every two to three days, and the variant is now responsible for about 200,000 new cases a day.

Given the rapid spread of the omicron variant in the U.K., the British government has removed rules that barred visitors from 11 countries, mainly in southern Africa, and required returning U.K. residents to quarantine themselves in a hotel at their own expense. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said all the countries on the “red list” would be removed at 0400 GMT on Wednesday.

“We need tens of thousands of people to help out – everyone from trained vaccinators to stewards,'' Johnson said. “Many thousands have already given their time - but we need you to come forward again, to work alongside our brilliant GPs, doctors, nurses and pharmacists, to deliver jabs and save lives.''

Long lines formed Tuesday at vaccination centers across England as the National Health Service raced to meet the government’s target of delivering up to 1 million shots a day, more than double the recent daily average. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said Tuesday that logistical issues in expanding the vaccination program would diminish over the course of the week.

“It does take a few days just to make sure we get to a steady state,” Raab told the BBC, adding: “We’ll keep straining every sinew to make sure we can reach that target.”

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