The UK on Tuesday reported 101 new COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant taking the number of such cases in the country to 437.

Tuesday's figures are an increase from the 90 cases reported on Monday.

According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 72 cases were in England, 28 in Scotland, and one in Wales.

Northern Ireland is yet to record an Omicron COVID-19 variant case. England has reported the highest total number of Omicron cases in the UK with 333, followed by Scotland with 99, and Wales with five.

The latest daily figures come as UK prime minister Boris Johnson warned that the Omicron variant may be more transmissible than the delta variant, the dominant variant in the UK over the last few months.

However, it remains to be determined how severe the disease caused by Omicron is and what impact the vaccines have on the variant which is believed to be behind a surge in infections in several countries across the world.

"The prime minister said it was too early to draw conclusions on the characteristics of Omicron but early indications were that it is more transmissible than Delta," the prime minister's spokesman said following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.

On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said cases of the Omicron variant in people without any travel history have been confirmed in the UK meaning it is now being transmitted within the community.

(With input from agencies)