A third case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in the UK, the Health Security Agency has said.
The person is no longer in the UK but had visited Westminster in London.
It comes after the government set out measures in response to the variant, including mandatory face masks in shops and on public transport in England.
And the Department for Education is now advising pupils in Year 7 and above, as well as school staff and visitors, to wear face coverings in communal areas.
Early evidence suggests the new Omicron variant – initially reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on Wednesday – has a higher re-infection risk.
On Monday, an urgent meeting of G7 health ministers will be held “to discuss the developments on Omicron”, the Department for Health and Social Care said.
