London is Omicron hotspot, with a rise in Covid hospitalisations. This raises hopes that the wave might be cresting in London a few weeks later than it started in South Africa.

  • The slowdown in London Hospital admissions to Covid occurred just before New Year. Figures
  • The hope is growing that the UK could be exempted from further restrictions in spite of record-breaking cases
  • Steve Barclay, the Chancellor of Lancaster, exhorted people to have booster shots 










According to new data, the growth of Covid hospitalisations was slower in London in the New Year. This raises hopes that Omicron disease in London may have reached its peak.

There were 319 patients admitted to hospital in London on December 31, a 14 per  cent rise on the same day a week before, and 450 on 30 December which is a 15 pe cent rise week-on-week.

Although the holiday effect might be keeping the numbers down, it is still a significant increase over the previous days that had a 32% rise in admissions from December 29 through 511.

319 patients were admitted to hospital in London on December 31, a 14 per cent rise on the same day a week before

On December 31, 319 people were admitted to London’s hospital. This is a 14% increase over the previous week.

Mutations of the Omicron variant make it much more infectious than previous Covid variants

Omicron mutations make the Omicron variant more infectious than other Covid variants.

Although the number of cases in capital is increasing at a slower pace, there has been some pressure on testing capacity which has dampened hopes that OmicronCovid infections may be reaching their peak.

South Africa’s Omicron virus outbreak saw the most severe Omicron infection ever recorded. It reached its peak in just three weeks, before falling again. This may have been due to Omicron having a shorter lifespan in the infected.

London’s Omicorn outbreak began before the rest, and Covid cases in the UK are continuing to increase rapidly.

Because of its mutations, the Omicron variant is more infectious than any other Covid variants. Scientists have expressed concern that the sudden peak and subsequent decline in South Africa’s population may not be repeated in the UK.

There is growing evidence Omicron can cause milder diseases, so there are more chances that the UK will not be subject to further restrictions. 

Data showed nearly one in 10 NHS workers were off sick over New Year's Eve as Covid continued to hit the health service (file image)

Covid continues to strike the NHS, and data shows that nearly 10 percent of NHS employees were sick on New Year’s Eve. (file image).

Steve Barclay, Chancellor of Lancaster, stated that Omicron’s high transmission levels will cause disruption to business and the public service in the weeks ahead. This is especially true if staff absentees are higher than usual. 

“We worked through Christmas to make sure that we are ready for the New Year, and all of our departments have been in close contact with leaders from both public and private sectors who can best manage their workers. 

“The best way to fight Omicron, is to be boosted. I urge anyone eligible to get boosted right now.

While Covid-19 infections increased in Britain by close to 15% over a span of one week, deaths fell by 23%

The Department of Health has released a new 137,583 Covid case in its daily update. This marks an additional 17,660 increase over the Boxing Day figures, and a 33.4 percent week-on-week rise in new cases according to New Year’s Day figures.

Ministers fear there will be a massive increase in Omicron cases when children return to the classroom this week

Ministers worry that Omicron case numbers will skyrocket when Omicron-infected children return home to their classrooms this week. 

It is now the 12th consecutive date that new cases are above 100,000. This comes as the country gets out of festive season. In recent days, the week-on–week rise in new cases was as high as 72.5 percent on Dec 29.

According to official statistics, less than half of those who fell ill on New Years Eve at the NHS were affected by coronavirus.

The NHS dashboard indicates that less than half of 110,000 people who were not at work had the virus.

This meant that one in 10 employees of the health system – or approximately 983,000 people-, were not admitted to hospitals because they had been sick.

It showed an increase of five percent in people who were sick compared to the pre-pandemic level.

This figure is also greater than the number of people who were sick on Boxing Day when less than 25,000 were affected by the virus.

However, the NHS did not reveal what coronavirus-free patients were like on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.

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