Daily Covid cases in Britain rocketed to another record high today as the Omicron Covid variant engulfs the country, with more than 88,000 people diagnosed in the last 24 hours.
The count today is up 74% compared with last Thursday. It’s also 12 percentage higher than the toll yesterday which broke the January 2nd wave record of 68,000.
Chris Whitty warned that the Omicron variant is causing a number of records to be broken. It’s believed Omicron’s ultra-infectious Omicron variant spreads faster than any testing and is growing at a rate of doubling per day.
Today, a third of the nation’s total 88.376 positive test results were found in London. London has rapidly become Omicron’s epicenter, and infections are on the rise for all ages, even young ones.
Omicron had effectively locked down the capital, and tens to thousands of workers stayed at home today in order not to be isolated over Christmas.
Below is a graph showing the incidence of infection in different age groups, compared to a week earlier. The graph shows that the number of cases is more than doubled week-on-week for adults aged 20 and over, as well as rising among all age groups.
Below is the graph showing week-on, the percentage change in Covid infection rates for England. The graph shows that national cases are also rising among adults aged 20 and older, with other groups beginning to see an increase.
LONDON — Today’s London morning rush hour saw Westminster Bridge look very tranquil as Britons prefer to stay home.
Farringdon Station is quiet during the rush hour of Central London. People get off at Underground trains.
The graph above is taken from the UK Health Security Agency’s weekly report. This graph shows how London’s infection rates have risen dramatically since the introduction of the Omicron super-transmissible variant.
The graph below shows London’s infection rates for both the under-60s as well as the over-60s. The graph shows that although cases in the under-60s are on the rise, it appears there is an increase for those over 60. Although experts hope that the boosters will slow the rising trend, Professor Chris Whitty stated today that hospitalisations could increase rapidly in the next few days.
Below is a map showing the share of Covid cases triggered in England by Omicron. This variant appears to dominate London, where 60% of all cases may be caused by it.
The chart below shows how many Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK. It is broken down into countries.
Covid cases are now rising in every age group except young children in Omicron-hotspot London, according to official figures that lay bare the threat the NHS faces in the coming weeks.
Super-mutant mutations are already dominant in capital. Tens of thousands of workers have stayed at home to prevent being isolated over Christmas.
According to data from the Department of Health, London now has the same number of cases as January last year. London was hit hard by the Alpha variant of HIV and placed under more severe measures than other parts of the country.
London’s crisis spiralling into chaos was originally driven by teens and adults aged 20-34, 30, and 40, who saw an increase in cases just two weeks prior to the discovery of Omicron, which was a highly infectious strain. Infections started to rise in the over-60s days after Omicron was confirmed to be in Britain, according to MailOnline analysis.
Another warning sign is the UK Health Security Agency data, published today. It revealed that the capital has now been identified as the area with the highest number of outbreaks in England.
Experts admit that the capital’s crisis is inevitable because of the virus running out of space. People heed dire warnings by Boris Johnson, Professor Chris Whitty and their plea for people to prioritize the most important social events over the next days.
They also said that the sudden spike in the number of cases in young adults will not necessarily be seen in the over-60s who are the most susceptible to the disease. Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia said, “This may partly be because others age groups don’t socialise as often.”
He also said Britain’s booster vaccine drive — which prioritised older adults — should help to thwart the virus’s spread, even though three jabs won’t protect thousands from catching the virus and getting ill.
Scientists hope it will mean that the NHS won’t be under immense pressure due to the sudden increase in the number of cases. Two vaccines are still effective in reducing severe illnesses. Chris Whitty suggested today that three shots against Omicron might be better than two for Delta.
Official data indicates that hospitalisations are increasing faster in the capital than elsewhere in the country. On average, only 153 patients are admitted to hospital with the virus daily, which is less than a eighth of its peak at 800 people last January.
The most current Government statistics showing the infection rate by age group are only available up to December 10. This means that London’s true pathology will look even worse.
Omicron hasn’t yet affected other areas of England in the same way, with cases increasing among older adults. Experts believe the capital is at greater risk because of its international location and lower vaccine rates.
The Department of Health statistics revealed that the infected rate in Capital has increased from 420.7 to 972.4% in just a week, with 100,000 people being infected. It has increased from 372.3 cases per 100,000 people to 865.8 in the 20s.
Also, older persons are at greater risk of the virus. Rates among those over 60 have increased by almost 40% in one week (from 115.7 to 168.1).
Cases are declining in the five- to fourteen-year-old age range. They are falling by approximately five percent each week.
NHS data show that 80 percent of those over 60 have been given a boost in England.
Even though Covid cases were rising dramatically, London today was forced to lock down by stealth. Millions of people opted to stay home and avoid the risk of contracting the virus.
Fear of getting the flu before Christmas Day is a reason many people want to stay away from the illness. They don’t want to miss the holiday season and be forced to isolate themselves.
Britons were warned last year not to mix with anyone outside of their family, which kept many families apart.
According to sat-nav app, London’s roads were quietest in rush-hour traffic on weekdays since summer today.
The central area of the city was abandoned as well, with many bars empty while people fled to avoid going to work.
Professor Whitty stated that some of the most dire predictions about hospitalisations or deaths might not be true due to the decline in social mixing.
This means the most extreme scenarios predicted by modelers will not be realized. In one paper they suggested admissions could peak at 4,500 a day in the current wave — more than last January.
In the capital, covid hospitalisations are increasing. Admissions have risen 38 percent between 111 and 153 per day in the past week.
Also, the number of Covid patients admitted to wards has increased by 15% from 1,095 a 1,267.
The number of patients who require mechanical ventilators has risen from 61% to 198.
Death rates in capital are flat at 10 per day. However, these indicators are slow because it takes for an infected person to get seriously ill.
Yesterday, Professor Whitty said that an increase in admissions could be attributed to the high level of infection.
Due to increased patient immunity now, there could be fewer intensive care patients in South Africa.
Londoners account for 61%, 26.7 % of which are double-jabbed.
Experts say this rate is lower than in England and makes the capital vulnerable.
For comparison: In England, 72% of the population are double-jabbed while 38% have had their confidence raised.
South West has the highest vaccination rate with 79% of those who have had at least two doses, and 44% have received their third.
While it’s too soon to know how Omicron boosters and doses work, data from the UK suggest that Omicron jabs may be much weaker.
According to the South African government, two doses Pfizer’s jab provide more than 70% protection from severe illnesses even with declining immunity.
Because South Africa has not yet started to roll them out, data on boosters may take longer. UK scientists also believe they will need to have 250 Omicron patients at the hospital in order for them be able make estimates of vaccine effectiveness.
According to the UK Hospitals, currently there are only 15 people with this mutant strain.
The true number of infected is believed to be much higher due to the lengthy time it takes to analyze samples and identify those with mutant strains.
This comes just as UKHSA’s Weekly Report on Covid Cases shows London has now 25 of the most rapidly growing Covid epidemics in England.
Hackney was the most affected, with cases increasing by more than twice in just a week to 832 infections for every 100,000 residents. Southwark was next, rising 88% in one week to 902.1 and Islington, rising 88% in one week to 800.
Every borough in the capital experienced an infected increase, with Sutton seeing an increase of 7% to 7766.6 and Richmond seeing an eight percent rise to 743.9.
Nationally, infections rose in 87 of 149 local authorities — or 58 per cent — with London now having the biggest outbreak of the virus.
In the Capital, cases rose almost 50% in one week from 475.8 and 702.8 per 100,000.
This is a graph showing Covid hospitalisations within London. Now they’re up 40% each week in London, after Omicron sent their cases spiralling
Although the number of covid deaths in capital is still low, this indicator may be skewed by the length of time it takes for someone to become seriously ill and need hospitalisation.
Prof Hunter is an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia. He said that the rapid increase in Covid cases in London among people in their 20s was not likely to happen in other age groups.
MailOnline spoke to him: “If it’s rapidly spreading within this age group.” [adults in their 20s]It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will spread at the same rate as other age groups.
“This could be because older age groups are less social and because some of them have had high levels in booster levels.”
Professor Hunter predicted, in addition to the fact that the number of cases across the nation and in capital would reach their peak within a matter of days because there will be no more infected people.
He said: ‘If it carries on at the rate it’s going then by the end of the year — and given also that we only detect about 40 per cent of infections — we would have pretty much all of the UK population being infected. This would be impossible.
Instead, he said the country was likely to see a ‘very short, sharp peak’ in infections — likening it to a sombrero.
However, this will likely be followed by an increase in hospitalisations. It is “very unlikely” that they will surpass levels last January.
They could hit 2,000 daily nationally according to the SAGE model, which is roughly half the peak.
Prof. Tim Spector is a leading epidemiologist and predicted that capital cases would start to slow in the New Year.
He stated that London has seen a rapid rise in the number of cases.
“But, this trend will slow down as more people adopt a change in their behavior, like wearing face masks once again, cancelling events, and working at home.
“These are the steps that will reduce the spread of the virus.
‘It’s my hope that the rest of the country is doing the same to avoid big outbreaks outside of London, especially in big cities.’
It comes as separate data from his Covid symptom study — based on 52,000 Covid swabs — found infections rose four per cent last week.
The study — also run by health data science company ZOE — estimated 87,131 people were now catching Covid every day up from 83,658 in the previous week.
However, it saw an increase in the number of cases in those aged 19-35. The incidences were lower in older people who are at greater risk.
Omicron-infected people often had symptoms that were similar to Delta infection, including headaches, sore throats, runny noses, fatigue and a sneezing attack.
Yesterday’s record number of 78610 Covid cases in Britain was detected within the past 24 hours.
The rapid spread Omicron was a factor in this. Omicron was responsible for 34% in England, and 60% in the capital.
The average infection rate in Gauteng, South Africa’s epicenter, has risen slightly since the variant was discovered a month ago. However hospitalisations remain high.
South Africa didn’t introduce any new restrictions but it did increase its vaccination program, which previously had reached just 25% of adults. In most areas, it already has face masks.
Experts caution that it’s difficult to draw a comparison because South Africa is home to far more youth than the UK.