[The Epoch Times, December 16, 2021](Reported by The Epoch Times UK Reporter) In order to deal with the new Omicron variant, England requires all adults to enter entertainment venues and participate in large-scale events to require people to show a vaccine pass (COVID pass). This is the first time that such a legal requirement has been passed in England. Both Scotland and Wales have previously required people to show similar proofs.
The new regulations were approved by the parliament on the evening of December 14 (this Tuesday) and will take effect from December 15 (this Wednesday). When people enter entertainment venues or participate in large-scale events, they need to provide proof that they have been vaccinated with two doses, or have a negative test result for the virus within 48 hours.
People can obtain the digital version of the pass through the NHS application or website, or ask the NHS to provide a written certificate, or use the NHS Test and Trace mobile phone text message or e-mail.
Places that require passes include nightclubs, dance halls, indoor events that can accommodate at least 500 people without fixed seats, outdoor events with at least 4,000 people without fixed seats, and any indoor or outdoor event with a number of 10,000 or more.
In addition, on the evening of the 14th, MPs voted to continue to require people to wear masks in most indoor public places and require NHS staff in England to be vaccinated.
New symptoms: itchy throat, back pain
Data from South Africa shows that the symptoms of the new Omicron variant are “quite different” from the previous variant. This includes back pain and itchy throat.
Ryan Noach, executive director of Discovery Health, South Africa’s largest private health insurance agency, said the most common early symptoms include an itchy throat, followed by nasal congestion, dry cough, and back pain.
Professor John Bell of the University of Oxford also said that the data showed that Omicron’s performance was very different from the previous variants, including nasal congestion, sore throat, low back pain and diarrhea.
The current official symptoms of the CCP virus in the UK include high fever, persistent cough, loss of taste and/or smell. ◇
Editor in charge: Chen Bin
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