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Covid-19: More than 10,000 new Omicron cases found in UK Covid-19: More than 10,000 new Omicron cases found in UK
(32 minutes later)
A major incident has been declared in London and more than 10,000 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK, as the variant surges across the country.A major incident has been declared in London and more than 10,000 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK, as the variant surges across the country.
A further 90,418 daily Covid cases have been reported across the UK on Saturday, after days of record highs.A further 90,418 daily Covid cases have been reported across the UK on Saturday, after days of record highs.
Cabinet ministers have been briefed on the latest Covid data.Cabinet ministers have been briefed on the latest Covid data.
London's mayor said he was "incredibly concerned" by the city's infection levels and the major incident was "a statement of how serious things are".London's mayor said he was "incredibly concerned" by the city's infection levels and the major incident was "a statement of how serious things are".
How many cases are there in my area?How many cases are there in my area?
Action needed to limit hospital admissions - Sage scientistsAction needed to limit hospital admissions - Sage scientists
'We're not looking forward to doing it all again''We're not looking forward to doing it all again'
Sadiq Khan said Friday's 26,000 new cases in London were having an impact on staff absences for the capital's emergency services.Sadiq Khan said Friday's 26,000 new cases in London were having an impact on staff absences for the capital's emergency services.
"I've been meeting over the last few days, on a daily basis, colleagues across the city from the NHS to councils, from the fire service to the police - we're incredibly concerned by the huge surge in the Omicron variant," he said. He said that NHS trusts, councils, the fire service, police and City Hall were "incredibly concerned by the huge surge in the Omicron variant".
"The big issue we have is the number of Londoners who have this virus and this is leading to big issues in relation to staff absences and the ability of our public services to run at the optimal levels. In this context, the major incident status would allow organisations to work more closely together, he added.
"I've taken the decision, in consultation with our partners, to declare a major incident. It's a statement of how serious things are."
Meanwhile, police officers suffered minor injuries during "scuffles" at a protest against coronavirus restrictions at Westminster.Meanwhile, police officers suffered minor injuries during "scuffles" at a protest against coronavirus restrictions at Westminster.
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Watch Sadiq Khan as he declares a major incident in London over OmicronWatch Sadiq Khan as he declares a major incident in London over Omicron
Latest government data has shown there are 1,534 Covid patients in London hospitals - up 28.6% on last week - with about 200 new admissions per day.Latest government data has shown there are 1,534 Covid patients in London hospitals - up 28.6% on last week - with about 200 new admissions per day.
Ministers have been warned England's hospital admissions could reach 3,000 a day without new measures.Ministers have been warned England's hospital admissions could reach 3,000 a day without new measures.
Saturday's data - which included the second-highest number of cases since mass testing began last year - also saw another 125 deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test, down slightly on a week ago.Saturday's data - which included the second-highest number of cases since mass testing began last year - also saw another 125 deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test, down slightly on a week ago.
The World Health Organization has said the Omicron variant has been identified in at least 89 countries - and is spreading significantly faster than the Delta strain.The World Health Organization has said the Omicron variant has been identified in at least 89 countries - and is spreading significantly faster than the Delta strain.
It is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, it added.It is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, it added.
In England, modelling indicates hospital admissions could peak at at least 3,000 a day without intervention measures beyond the Plan B rules currently in place, advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said in the leaked minutes of a meeting held on Thursday.In England, modelling indicates hospital admissions could peak at at least 3,000 a day without intervention measures beyond the Plan B rules currently in place, advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said in the leaked minutes of a meeting held on Thursday.
The current Plan B rules for England include Covid passes for certain events, face masks in more places and people being urged to work from home if they can.The current Plan B rules for England include Covid passes for certain events, face masks in more places and people being urged to work from home if they can.
The other nations of the UK have already brought in similar rules - and Scotland has gone further by asking people to limit social contact to three households at a time in the run-up to Christmas. Wales has also ordered nightclubs to close from 27 December.The other nations of the UK have already brought in similar rules - and Scotland has gone further by asking people to limit social contact to three households at a time in the run-up to Christmas. Wales has also ordered nightclubs to close from 27 December.
When it comes to Covid hospital admissions it's going to become increasingly important to look behind the headline figures to truly understand the impact of Omicron. Ministers face big decision
With infection levels rising, it's possible a greater share will be incidental admissions - a patient with a broken leg who happens to test positive for Covid on arrival, for example. A huge and difficult decision is about to be made - to continue as we are or to impose new restrictions.
In London more than one in five patients in hospital fall into this category - and it's a proportion that may be just showing the early signs of increasing. Omicron is spreading rampantly with the number of people infected doubling every two days.
Admissions for Covid are also going up, just not as fast it seems as admissions with Covid. Even though vaccines will undoubtedly protect many, the sheer scale of the wave is the threat.
So direct Covid pressures are still on the rise but just maybe not as fast as headline figures suggest. The government has been presented with, at times grim, estimates of what's could happen in the coming weeks.
Another figure to watch is length of stay for Covid patients. Its science advisers warn continuing with Plan B could lead to the number of people being infected each day peaking between 600,000 and two million, which could put the NHS under intense pressure.
It has been falling throughout the pandemic. The advice says scenarios ranging from lockdown with schools open to restrictions on indoor gatherings and reducing the number of people we can meet could temper the wave.
If it falls again during this Omicron wave that too could relieve the overall pressure. The hope is any further restrictions would be short lived - either relaxed if Omicron proves to be less of a threat than feared or used to buy time for everyone to get a booster vaccine.
Omicron is still shrouded in uncertainty - the estimate of deaths under Plan B is incredibly wide, ranging from 600 to 6,000 a day.
But the problem is there is little time to find out more as cases are increasing so rapidly.
Omicron is now thought to now be the dominant variant in England and Scotland, replacing Delta.Omicron is now thought to now be the dominant variant in England and Scotland, replacing Delta.
Over 800,000 booster doses were reported for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with 817,625 third jabs.Over 800,000 booster doses were reported for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with 817,625 third jabs.
Meanwhile, epidemiologist Prof Neil Ferguson, who is a government adviser but was not involved in Thursday's Sage meeting, said the true number of infections was likely to be much higher than those reported - and might be 300,000 a day.Meanwhile, epidemiologist Prof Neil Ferguson, who is a government adviser but was not involved in Thursday's Sage meeting, said the true number of infections was likely to be much higher than those reported - and might be 300,000 a day.
On hospital admissions, he said there had been a significant surge in the London region, which was ahead of the rest of the country in terms of the spread of Omicron.On hospital admissions, he said there had been a significant surge in the London region, which was ahead of the rest of the country in terms of the spread of Omicron.
Protesters gathered in central London on Saturday, with many calling for an end to all coronavirus restrictionsProtesters gathered in central London on Saturday, with many calling for an end to all coronavirus restrictions
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme in a personal capacity, Prof Ferguson said there were concerns "we'll be heading into something which has the risk of overwhelming the public health service".Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme in a personal capacity, Prof Ferguson said there were concerns "we'll be heading into something which has the risk of overwhelming the public health service".
The Liberal Democrats said the government needed to "come clean with the public about what Omicron means for Christmas".The Liberal Democrats said the government needed to "come clean with the public about what Omicron means for Christmas".
The party's health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: "Ministers must act now to protect NHS staff and ensure that urgent NHS services are available to everyone over the Christmas period.The party's health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said: "Ministers must act now to protect NHS staff and ensure that urgent NHS services are available to everyone over the Christmas period.
"The government should explain what additional public health protections are needed to bring the NHS back from the brink of collapse, and urgently get support to struggling businesses.""The government should explain what additional public health protections are needed to bring the NHS back from the brink of collapse, and urgently get support to struggling businesses."
Hannah Essex, co-exec director at the British Chamber of Commerce, told BBC Breakfast further restrictions would need to come with a package of support for businesses.Hannah Essex, co-exec director at the British Chamber of Commerce, told BBC Breakfast further restrictions would need to come with a package of support for businesses.
She said the past 20 months had been "absolutely brutal" for businesses and doing nothing was not an option.She said the past 20 months had been "absolutely brutal" for businesses and doing nothing was not an option.
"They were just starting to see things pick up and this is the point at which we could see them fall over the edge. And that would be such a terrible shame and will inevitably lead to job losses as well," she added."They were just starting to see things pick up and this is the point at which we could see them fall over the edge. And that would be such a terrible shame and will inevitably lead to job losses as well," she added.
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