dr thomas waite is the deputy chief medical officer for england and explained a little earlier how the omicron variant is spreading — and why the new restrictions are proportionate. it reflects the way that this virus is spreading really so very quickly, notiust_ is spreading really so very quickly, notjust here and notjust in south africa, _ notjust here and notjust in south africa, who — notjust here and notjust in south africa, who have been really extremely helpful to the rest of the world _ extremely helpful to the rest of the world in_ extremely helpful to the rest of the world in sharing this information early— world in sharing this information early and — world in sharing this information early and quickly, but all over the world _ early and quickly, but all over the world i_ early and quickly, but all over the world. i think the omicron virus has now been_ world. i think the omicron virus has now been found in at least 60 different — now been found in at least 60 different countries. there isn't a single _ different countries. there isn't a single marker that allows us to understand or to assess the effectiveness of interventions. it is about — effectiveness of interventions. it is about the number of cases, how rapidly— is about the number of cases, how rapidly they— is about the number of cases, how rapidly they are spreading, who they are spreading in, and that is one of the reasons— are spreading in, and that is one of the reasons that the vaccine programme has started with people who are _ programme has started with people who are most vulnerable. older people. — who are most vulnerable. older people, people in care homes, because — people, people in care homes, because they are people who are always _ because they are people who are always at — because they are people who are always at risk with this virus when there _ always at risk with this virus when there are — always at risk with this virus when there are any variants. at risk of severe _ there are any variants. at risk of severe illness or ending up in hospital _