Episode Details

United States to follow. 200,000 new omicron infections per day in the UK now. Zoe study https://covid.joinzoe.com/data#levels-over-time Official UK data https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases Boris Johnson UK faces a huge spike in omicron infections https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/covid-news-vaccine-booster-jab-restrictions-latest-cases-figures/ Mr Javid https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/health-and-social-care-secretary-oral-statement-on-covid-19 No variant of COVID-19 has spread this fast 4,713 confirmed cases of Omicron in the UK UK Health Security Agency, cases of omicron, + 200,000 per day Over 20% percent of cases in England London, 44% 10 confirmed hospitalised in England with Omicron Hospitalisations and deaths lag infections by around two weeks, dramatically increase in the days and weeks that lie ahead NHS England, return to its highest level of emergency preparedness: Level 4 National Incident. Third dose is 70% percent effective at preventing symptomatic infection COVID, should wait 28 days from their positive result to get their booster Fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case will now be able to take daily lateral flow tests instead of self-isolating Dr Susan Hopkins, UK Health Security Agency https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/14/uk-omicron-infections-one-million-a-day-end-december-covid-christmas This is growing very fast with a growth rate of initially two to three days, and that growth rate seems to be shortening rather than lengthening we are going to have a very difficult four weeks ahead Risk of infection, omicron variant, eight times higher than the delta Million cases per day by end of December Professor Graham Medley, infectious disease modelling, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine The number of infections means that even though individually we are at less risk, at population level, the number of people ending up in hospital could get very large Amanda Pritchard, NHS England chief executive, Stephen Powis, NHS Improvement chief executive https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/12/C1487-letter-preparing-the-nhs-potential-impact-of-omicron-variant-and-other-winter-pressures-v3.pdf Patients medically fit to be sent home Managing oxygen supplies Increasing critical care capacity Football Manchester United cancelled game Premier league, 42 players positive Professor Chris Whitty Every adult needs to get a booster jab in the face of the highly infectious variant Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation Omicron is spreading across the globe at an unprecedented rate, the World Health Organization https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-59656385 https://www.discovery.co.za/corporate/news-room

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