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| Covid: UK reports highest daily cases since the pandemic began | Covid: UK reports highest daily cases since the pandemic began |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| The UK has recorded the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 78,610 new cases on Wednesday. | The UK has recorded the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 78,610 new cases on Wednesday. |
| The previous record was 68,053 on 8 January - when the UK was in lockdown. | The previous record was 68,053 on 8 January - when the UK was in lockdown. |
| Speaking at a news conference, England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty warned that records will be broken a lot in the next few weeks. | |
| PM Boris Johnson said it is absolutely vital that everyone gets a booster jab. | |
| He warned that in some areas the doubling rate was now under two days. | |
| Mr Johnson said: "I'm afraid we're also seeing the inevitable increase in hospitalisations up by 10% nationally, week on week, and up by almost a third in London." | |
| Prof Chris Whitty said the country is experiencing two separate epidemics, one driven by the "very rapidly-growing" Omicron variant and the other by the Delta variant. | |
| He said: "I'm afraid we have to be realistic that records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks as the rates continue to go up." | |
| The scientist added Delta cases appear to still be flat while Omicron is growing. | |
| How many cases are there in my area? | How many cases are there in my area? |
| How do I book a booster? | How do I book a booster? |
| Where will I need a Covid pass? | Where will I need a Covid pass? |
| Cases have risen by nearly 20,000 in one day - on Tuesday, 59,610 confirmed cases were confirmed by the government. | Cases have risen by nearly 20,000 in one day - on Tuesday, 59,610 confirmed cases were confirmed by the government. |
| The jump in cases follows the introduction of new measures in recent days, with mandatory face masks in most indoor settings and Covid passes for large events in England. | The jump in cases follows the introduction of new measures in recent days, with mandatory face masks in most indoor settings and Covid passes for large events in England. |
| Health Secretary Sajid Javid refused to rule out introducing new restrictions over the coming weeks, but insisted the measures in place currently are the right ones. | Health Secretary Sajid Javid refused to rule out introducing new restrictions over the coming weeks, but insisted the measures in place currently are the right ones. |
| Asked if more guidance would be issued instead of legislation, he told reporters: "We keep the whole situation under review. It is fast moving, I think people understand that." | Asked if more guidance would be issued instead of legislation, he told reporters: "We keep the whole situation under review. It is fast moving, I think people understand that." |
| Mr Javid also said around 60% of cases in London are now of the Omicron variant. | Mr Javid also said around 60% of cases in London are now of the Omicron variant. |
| Also on Wednesday, the UK gave out 656,711 booster or third doses of a vaccine - up by over 140,000 on the day before. | Also on Wednesday, the UK gave out 656,711 booster or third doses of a vaccine - up by over 140,000 on the day before. |
| There were 165 deaths of people who tested positive for Covid in the previous 28 days. | There were 165 deaths of people who tested positive for Covid in the previous 28 days. |
| Health officials have been clear we should expect cases to surge because of the Omicron variant. | Health officials have been clear we should expect cases to surge because of the Omicron variant. |
| The first UK case was identified last month - and by last weekend it was thought to account for nearly a quarter of cases. | The first UK case was identified last month - and by last weekend it was thought to account for nearly a quarter of cases. |
| And with Omicron infections doubling every two days it was only a matter of time before it began to drive up overall infection levels. | And with Omicron infections doubling every two days it was only a matter of time before it began to drive up overall infection levels. |
| These numbers are only going to go up from here as both Delta and Omicron circulate. | These numbers are only going to go up from here as both Delta and Omicron circulate. |
| What is not clear is what it means for serious illness. | What is not clear is what it means for serious illness. |
| There are suggestions it is causing milder illness. There is logic to that - reinfections or infections post vaccination are likely to be milder. | There are suggestions it is causing milder illness. There is logic to that - reinfections or infections post vaccination are likely to be milder. |
| But if infections continue to rise as quickly as they are that will push up hospital admissions. | But if infections continue to rise as quickly as they are that will push up hospital admissions. |
| Left unchecked, the peak will come quickly with modelling suggesting it could range between just over 2,000 a day to more than 6,000 in England alone. | Left unchecked, the peak will come quickly with modelling suggesting it could range between just over 2,000 a day to more than 6,000 in England alone. |
| Last winter it topped out at 3,700. | Last winter it topped out at 3,700. |
| Concerns over the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading in the UK have been expressed by scientists and government advisers. | Concerns over the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading in the UK have been expressed by scientists and government advisers. |
| Earlier head of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, warned Omicron is "probably the most significant threat" since the pandemic began. | |
| The chief executive of NHS England said the case numbers "should worry all of us" and emphasised they show how important the booster programme is. | The chief executive of NHS England said the case numbers "should worry all of us" and emphasised they show how important the booster programme is. |
| Amanda Pritchard told the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee: "That is a stark reminder of why the current national mission to get Covid vaccination is the right one." | Amanda Pritchard told the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee: "That is a stark reminder of why the current national mission to get Covid vaccination is the right one." |