Any newly-discovered strains of Covid-19 could be more serious than Omicron, England's Chief Medical Officer says,
Professor Chris Whitty warned a Downing Street press conference that a new variant could also be "more vaccine-escaping" than the current dominant strain.
At the same press event, the Prime Minister cautioned Britain cannot "declare victory" over the virus yet.
Speaking after he announced all remaining Covid restrictions will be axed, the PM said there "may be significant resurgences" and "it's very possible that those will be worse than Omicron", reports MirrorOnline.
Professor Whitty added: "We could certainly end up with something that is more likely to lead to hospitalisations than Omicron"
The Chief Medical Officer also urged anyone who tests positive for Covid to self-isolate - even as The Prime Minister has announced that it's no longer required under law.
It comes after the Prime Minister revealed in the Commons his Living With Covid strategy for England, which will see the end of free testing for all but the most vulnerable from April 1.
Mandatory self-isolation will also be axed from Thursday and the £500 isolation payments and day-one sick pay will go.
The PM told the press conference: "Today is not the day we can declare victory over Covid because this virus is not going away.
"But it is the day when all the efforts of the last two years finally enabled us to protect ourselves whilst restoring our liberties in full.
"And after two of the darkest, grimmest years in our peacetime history, I do believe this is a moment of pride for our nation, and a source of hope for all that we can achieve in the years to come."
