According to the largest surveillance study in Britain, nearly 200,000 Britons are becoming sick with Covid each day. The report predicts that the landmark will be broken within days.
King’s College London experts – who monitor the outbreak using a symptom-tracking app – estimate infections jumped 33 per cent in a week to around 192,000 per day.
The team however praised promising signs that Omicron’s exponential growth has stopped. One of the Omicron experts, Dr Claire Steves said that the rate is now more steady.
This is consistent with evidence that the super-infectious strain of the virus may be causing milder diseases than other strains.
Hospitals in the capital already exceeded the threshold of 400 admissions per day, which may prompt the Government to take action nationwide.
NHS chiefs are worried that London will see more pressure in the coming weeks due to the delay between infection and the time it takes for patients to become severely ill. However, a lower proportion of seriously ill patients is still being treated.
Dr Steves explained that patients are on the rise among 55-75-year olds.
Separate figures show that the number of Covid-related deaths in England and Wales during the week ended December 17th was down by 1% compared to the seven days before.
King’s College London scientist estimate that almost 200,000 people catch Covid daily in the UK. They also predict the nation will surpass the landmark in the coming days.
They said that covid cases tend to be highest in the 18-35-year-olds, however they are increasing across all age categories. They also see an increase in cases among over-75s (purple) and 55-75-year-olds, who are most at-risk from the virus.
London is the most infected region in England. Omicron is spreading across the country, and Omicron cases are increasing in other areas.
Today’s separate figures by the Office for National Statistics showed that weekly deaths in England & Wales were still higher than the average over the past five years. Although the number of covid deaths has yet to rise, this indicator is still lagging due to the length of time it takes for someone to contract the virus and become severely ill.
According to reports, ministers will be closely monitoring Omicron London admissions. Any breach exceeding 400 is likely to result in further national restrictions. Boxing Day data showed that 374 individuals were admitted into the capital, an increase of 73% from the previous week.
She explained that the daily number of new Covid cases is now more than twice what it was last year. We are also just days from surpassing 200,000.
“The exponential growth in the number of cases does not seem to have stopped. The rise seems more consistent.”
Dr Steves stated that while hospitalization rates are lower than they were last year, they still remain high, particularly in London.
The King’s College London estimates — made in conjunction with health-tech firm ZOE — are based on reports from around 840,000 weekly users of the app.
The prevalence of the virus is estimated based upon positive test results and people who have tell-tale signs.
This is in contrast to yesterday’s officially reported numbers which soared to a new pandemic high. It demonstrates Omicron’s rapid spread.
The UK Health Security Agency chiefs recorded 183,037 positive test results, almost three quarters more than last week.
The count — which eclipses the previous record from the day before by more than 45,000 — was skewed upwards because it included five days’ worth of backlogged data from Northern Ireland, which didn’t feed officials its numbers over the Christmas break.
Statistics for England-only — which were kept up-to-date through the festive period — were also their highest on record, jumping by 45 per cent in a week. The result is surprising considering the same number of tests that were performed.
Officially-recorded figures, though they offer a good indication of Britain’s current situation, can be misleading. Up to half the people infected don’t get tested.
Dr Steves called today for an expansion of the Covid symptoms official list because the data indicates that 75 percent of cold-like symptoms may be caused by the virus.
She added: ‘It’s good news to see that fewer people are newly sick than a few weeks ago. Government advice must be updated urgently due to the fact that Covid is the most common cause of cold symptoms.
“We would like to see sore throats, headaches, and runny eyes added to this list as quickly as possible.”
UK guidelines currently recognise three symptoms that are early signs of infection. These include a persistent cough, fever, and changes in taste or smell.
According to UKHSA data, Omicron accounts for 90% of all Omicron cases across England.
2.8% of Lambeth residents tested positive in the week ending December 23, (second image), followed by 2.6% in Wandsworth, Southwark, and Lewisham (2.686 per 100,000, and 2.621 per 100,000), respectively. These boroughs saw the most rapid week-on week growth in infections rates, compared with the week ending December 16, (first image). This suggests that the capital’s epidemic is not flattening. The cases rose 11% in Wandsworth and 15% in Lambeth. They also rose by 25% in Southwark, 33% in Lewisham, and 15 percent in Lambeth.
Cases rose by 12 per cent in the week ending December 23 in Wandsworth, 15 per cent in Lambeth, 25 per cent in Southwark and 43 per cent in Lewisham – the areas with the highest infection rate
But experts have repeatedly called for the NHS’s list to be expanded, saying it misses cases in the early stages — increasing the risk of the virus being transmitted.
The CDC, a US agency, has identified more than ten warning indicators and is now warning people about symptoms like muscle aches and headaches.
The Office for National Statistics reported today that 755 deaths had been registered in England and Wales during the week ended December 17. They included Covid as a cause of death.
It was a decrease of 1 percent from the previous week, and the lowest death toll since October 15th when it was 713.
Nearly one-in-16 (6.1%) of all deaths occurring in England and Wales between December 17-17, 2012 included Covid on their death certificates.
Boris Johnson granted permission to people to enjoy New Year’s Eve despite an explosion of criminal cases during the week. However, Johnson advised millions to remain ‘cautious’ and’sensible’.
Even with the rise of Omicron, Prime Minister insists that everybody should be able to enjoy the final social hurrah.
While he stated that the strain is “continues cause real problems”, with hospitalisations increasing, data suggests it is clearly milder than its Delta counterpart.
Separate NHS data showed that daily Covid hospitalisations have exceeded the threshold of 400 per day in London, according to Government advisors. This could lead to nationwide restrictions.
England saw an increase of 65% in weekly admissions. More than 10,000 beds were occupied now by patients with virus infection for the first-time since March.
NHS leaders have warned against overinterpreting rising hospital beds. Omicron has been known to make a milder illness, while virus-infected patients spend less time in the wards. Incidental admissions are on the increase due to the extremely high levels of Covid in this community.
Johnson claimed that England’s success in its booster roll-out was the reason he decided to delay putting in any more restrictions. However, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have all imposed new socializing rules.