Omicron left the public sector in a “perilous” state, according to unions. Recycling centres were forced to close down and bin collection in London was under threat. Trains and flights were also cancelled.
The Lewisham council has announced that its main recycling and reuse centre will close on Wednesday. In the case of any delays, black bin collection would be prioritized.
The Rail Delivery Group reported that 6.8% of all trains in the country were cancelled yesterday. This compares to an average annual rate of 2.9%. Warwickshire trains have been suspended indefinitely, which affected service between Leamington Spa and Nuneaton.
FlightAware data indicates that more than 2200 international flights were cancelled yesterday. Heathrow also cancelled 60 flights Sunday. Gatwick reported that it received only three cancellations on Sunday out of 215 flights, while none yesterday.
Lewisham council said that the main reuse and recycling center (pic) would close Wednesday. Black bin collection will take priority in case there are delays with recycling collections.
It added that black bin collections would be prioritised in the event of delays to recycling collections
According to local government officials, nationwide shortages in personnel are most acute in the areas of waste collection as well as social services and child services.
Jon Richard, the assistant general secretary of Unison, the public services union, told the Guardian: ‘Key health, council, care and police services have so many staff off that lots are worried they will not be able to keep going.
“That is why additional measures to stop virus spread will be of paramount importance over the next weeks. Services are now struggling to survive after years of reductions. Omicron now has a solution, leaving the services in an extremely dangerous state.
There have been concerns raised regarding the opening of schools again after Christmas. Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers warned that some students could be sent home because there isn’t enough teachers.
Geoff Barton was the General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. He stated to the BBC that the absences at schools had reached an ‘unsustainable’ level, and some schools were reporting up to 25% staff absent in the week prior to Christmas.
“We are not sure what the week ahead will be like.” He said that while we don’t want to be a catastrophe, we do believe we need to have some realism.
Others industries were also affected, as West End actors were called up in just four hours due to Covid cast members.
Charlotte Kennedy, 27, was given four hours’ notice to play Cosette in a production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre.
According to her, it was an extremely quick turnaround. They did my hair and I went to a fitting for a new costume. [there was no time for a wig fitting]I just went over the lyrics and hoped they would stick.
The NHS could lose up to 40% of its London workforce in the worst-case scenario envisaged by Alison Leary at London Southbank University, who is chair of modelling health and worker care.
According to NHS England data on December 19, 351 Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust workers were either ill due to Covid, as compared with 70 weeks prior. According to statistics, this figure represents 6.13 percent or more of the total workforce at the trust. MailOnline has a graphic that shows which 10 London trusts had the highest percentage of employees who were absent due to Covid. It was shown in the MailOnline graph on December 19, 2009.
According to NHS England data on December 19, 338 Barts Health Trust hospital employees were either ill due to Covid or wasolating as a result of the disease. This compares to 83 just two weeks ago. With 515 Covid workers home, Guy’s Hospital Trust (179 on December 5), St Thomas’ Trust was the most affected. This is an 188% increase from the previous week. King’s College Hospital Trust saw 505 Covid-related absences December 19. This was followed by Imperial College Healthcare trust (3365), Great Ormond Street Hospitaltrust (351), and St George’s University Hospital trust (206)
NHS England data shows that staff absenteeisms due to Covid in London have increased by 1,100 to 3,874 in the past two weeks, to December 19. This means that the virus is now responsible for around 43% of NHS London daily absences, compared with just 18% before Omicron spiralled outof control.
The total number of 18829 NHS employees in acute trusts was absent on December 19 due to coronavirus reasons. This is an increase from the 12,240 staff a week prior.
It means that around 941 people call in sick each day or areolating, putting additional strain on an already stretched NHS.
Barts Health Trust reported that 338 of its employees were absent from work due to either the virus being spread or they are still in isolation. That’s compared with the 91 workers who had been off duty on Sunday.
Similar trends were observed across London, with Covid-related absences increasing from 1,540 up to 3,874 in the same period. The virus accounts for 43 percent of NHS London daily absences, as opposed to only 18% when Omicron spiralled out-of control. Covid, the most-hit trust that runs Great Ormond Street Hospital, was responsible for more than 6 percent of all staff being absent.
This comes just as Prime Minister sets to hold crucial talks today about whether England should be following the lead of other UK countries and introducing extra Covid curbs before the new year.
Discussions around additional measures center on whether the health system can handle an anticipated spike in patients infected like those seen in London and rising staff absenteeism.
Retail, which was already afflicted by the pandemic in the past, faced staff shortages on Boxing Day.
They are worried about being further affected by Christmas when they return to their homes having spread Omicron among friends, family, and relatives.
Gatwick in the UK, which is second busiest airport after London, stated that only three of 215 flights had been cancelled on Sunday. Coronavirus was blamed for most of the cancellations around the world, however severe weather in the US also played a role.
At Manchester Airport, holidaymakers on the hunt for winter escapes were delayed 12 hours due to chaos.
Although passengers had to be leaving Manchester at 8:10am for Turin, the flight didn’t take place until approximately 12 hours later.
The Italian authorities expect them to arrive there at 10.30pm. This means they’ll have missed a day of their holiday break.
People spent hours waiting on airplanes while they waited to depart.
The most up-to-date figures reveal there were 842 Covid patients in intensive care on ventilators – the lowest level in two months
Michael Ackroyd was from Saddleworth (Oldham), and was affected by delays.
When the disturbance occurred, he and his family had been looking forwards to beginning their skiing vacation.
Tui, the flight operator has apologized to passengers and has confirmed that the plane is now headed for Italy.
The disruption was due to a “technical problem”, according to Ackroyd. Ackroyd stated that the airplane passengers were supposed to travel on to Turin was having a problem with its toilet.
They waited three hours for the plane to be cleared of passengers so that a new plane could be ordered.
After several hours, all passengers were finally transferred onto another plane around 3.45pm.
Another hour passed before Mr Ackroyd stated that they had been told by the ground crew there was no one available to help with baggage transfer onto the next plane.
It finally left around 7.30pm.
UK Government Statistics show that 1.5m Covid test are being performed per day. However, the amount of Covid swabs done has increased tremendously since Omicron’s inception.
One passenger claimed that they received vouchers for food to be used during the day. However, another said that she was told on their evening flight there would only be snacks and not meals.
A passenger explained that there were children aboard, so no food was available and there is a higher risk of COVID. However, everyone should have a PCR done within 48 hours and lateral flow tests with 24 hours. Tensions are increasing, people are stressed, patience is running thin’.
“The conditions in which we live are disgraceful is an understatement.
“To the credit of the crew onboard, they are maintaining calm and answering all questions. They also work hard to make phone calls in order to resolve the many issues that have arisen.”
Travellers who were due to fly from Turin back to Manchester have been affected by the delays.
TUI spokeswoman said that the delay in flight TOM2726 between Manchester and Turin was due to technical issues.
“We have confirmed that an alternative aircraft is now departing from Manchester. Customers are currently on their way to Turin.
Safety and welfare of crew and passengers is our number one priority. We thank our passengers for their understanding and patience.
People took to social media in protest of long waiting times at airports.
The Rail Delivery Group reported that 6.8% of all trains in the country were cancelled yesterday, against an average annual rate of 2.9%. File photo
FlightAware data indicates that more than 2200 flights were cancelled worldwide yesterday. Heathrow also cancelled 60 flights Sunday. File pic
Jamie Gloyne tweeted: @united What is happening at Heathrow? If we don’t get in sooner, these people won’t be able to fly.
On Twitter, he added: “Never witnessed such lack of organization.” This is chaos.
Amira Rasool stated that London’s airport was trying to be the top-flight security in the world.
I would like to be able to use my Korean skin products and mascara in a travel size, sis.
“Never do another London Heathrow transfer again. What happens when you remove people’s luggage that is too large to fit into the small bag you give them? Do you make them pay for it or recommend we purchase new bags at your airport.
I asked her why there were only two plastic bags and she answered that it was for security. They let us choose the items.
‘Girl. Just say that you are aware it’s about them wanting us to either buy their products or pay for shipping.
Robyn posted that she is still waiting on her mom’s bag. From JNB 19/12, she landed at Heathrow.
“We’ve followed all procedures, and were informed it would arrive 21/12. Then it was shipped to Edinburgh.
Elle added, “Then it promised it would here 23/12. We are now told that the case is closed? We need your help.
Over the weekend, Heathrow was witness to chaotic scenes as Covid staff shortages began to strike
Maz asks: Are any Heathrow leaders parents? Try going through Heathrow border control with your kids, the queues are always long esp for UK nationals, it sucks…
It is a shame that social distancing at Heathrow is not existent. ‘Oh and Heathrow has no social ditancing.
Domestic travel suffered from illness amongst staff, which led to many cancellations yesterday.
The coronavirus pandemic is threatening to disrupt plans for the holiday season by planning closures, industrial action and staff shortages.
West Midlands Railways yesterday announced that service between Leamington Spa Spa, Nuneaton, and Coventry was suspended indefinitely
According to a spokesperson, the Coronavirus and Omicron pandemics had significant impacts on our workforce. This means that more colleagues have been forced to isolate themselves.
‘Whilst we make every effort to run the planned train service, we need to let you know that in December, we will be making changes to services between Leamington Spa – Nuneaton via Coventry. It will continue to be serviced by a rail replacement bus, until further notice.
TransPennine Express (ScotRail), Avanti West Coast (Nord Rail), Avanti West Coast, Northern Rail and LNER have all experienced an effect on services due to a lack in staff.
Currently, East Midlands Railway services are still affected by industrial action by RMT union. An amended service is expected to start on January 2.
Many routes also are being affected by engineering plans.
Southern’s Gatwick Airport trains to London Bridge and London Victoria are now available until January 3.
Leeds, in the northern part of England will offer a reduced service from December 27 to January 3. This includes a very limited service on January 2.
CrossCountry trains in the west will not make stops at Bristol Parkway from December 27 to December 31. Other Great Western Railway services between Bristol Temple Meads and London will be also affected.
National Rail stated that 95% British rail networks will be open despite the closings.
The 370 engineering projects that it will be completing over Christmas are a result of planning months, sometimes years in advance.
Travellers to and from the capital city can also expect the same travel problems, as the Tube is closed due to planned closings.
To December 30, the Piccadilly Line was closed from Heathrow Airport to Acton Town.
There will not be any service between Willesden Green, Wembley Park, or on the Metropolitan between Wembley Park to Aldgate up until December 28.
TfL says that the Metropolitan and City Lines have been completely shut down since December 23rd and won’t reopen before January 1.
The London Overground will be closed between Gospel Oak Stratford and December 29,