People queue for their booster dose outside a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination centre in Oval, south London
(REUTERS)
The UK has recorded 78,610 daily Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest number of infections the country has detected in a 24-hour period since the pandemic began in March last year.
Boris Johnson is currently holding a Downing Street omicron briefing, amid warnings that there could soon be 2,000 national coronavirus hospitalisations a day.
During the press conference, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned that Covid-19 “records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks”.
The comment comes after a top UK health official said the omicron Covid variant is “probably the most significant threat” the virus has posed.
To contain its spread, a slim majority of adults (51 per cent) in the UK are in favour of a two-week national lockdown over Christmas, according to a Savanta ComRes poll.
Meanwhile, Jenny Harries, the head of the UK Health Security Agency, also told MPs the NHS could be in “serious peril” over the variant’s wave.
On Wednesday, lateral flow tests remained unavailable to order online for the third day in a row – despite all double-vaccinated contacts of a Covid case – including omicron – now being told to take daily tests.
Whitty warns against claims omicron causes ‘milder’ illness
Prof Chris Whitty warned against premature claims that the disease from omicron is milder than previous variants based on data from South Africa.
“There is more immunity in South Africa than there was during the last wave…Therefore the fact that there is a lower hospitalisation rate is unsurprising,” said the chief medical officer.
“It doesn’t mean there isn’t some degree of slightly milder disease. But I just think there is a danger that people have over-interpreted this to say, ‘This is not a problem and what are we worrying about’. I want to be clear – I’m afraid this is going to be a problem.”
Adam Forrest15 December 2021 17:36
PM insists further restrictions not needed
The BBC’s Laura Kuennsberg has just asked the prime minister whether stronger measures are needed now that coronavirus infections are at an all-time high.
“I think this is the right approach,” Boris Johnson replied, employing a boxing analogy to suggest the government was offering a “right and left” against the omicron variant.
He added that more information about the variant was required.
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:34
Watch: Whitty says more Covid records will be broken
Here’s a clip of Chris Whitty speaking several minutes ago:
Covid records ‘will be broken a lot’ as cases soar, Whitty warns
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:29
‘Be patient’ with healthcare staff, says NHS director
NHS director Dr Nikki Kanani has just finished speaking at the press conference.
She urged the public to book their booster appointments and to volunteer for the NHS if possible.
Dr Kanani also asked people to “be patient” with NHS workers. “They are doing everything to protect you as soon as possible,” she said.
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:27
Most Covid hospitalisations will be from omicron variant, says chief medical officer
Chris Whitty has said he expects most hospitalisations in the UK to soon be from omicron variant cases.
Despite the general protection offered by vaccines, some vaccinated people will need to be hospitalised, the country’s chief medical officer added.
“But their risk is much reduced,” he said.
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:20
Records will be ‘broken a lot’ in coming weeks, says Whitty
It’s now Chris Whitty’s turn to speak.
England’s chief medical officer said that we should realise that Covid “records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks”.
His comment comes a few hours after the country recorded 78,610 daily infections, the highest ever figure.
(PA Wire)
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:16
PM encourages people to get booster jabs
The prime minister has reminded the public that from tomorrow people will no longer need to wait at vaccine centres for 15 minutes after their jabs.
He added that 12 to 15-year-olds will be able to book their second jab appointments from Monday.
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:14
Boris Johnson addresses nation on Covid situation
Boris Johnson addresses the nation
(Reuters TV)
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:10
Watch PM’s omicron announcement live
Boris Johnson’s press conference on the spread of the omicron variant has just started.
Watch live as Boris Johnson gives Covid announcement as omicron cases soar
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 17:07
Omicron more transmissible than delta, says CDC
Early data indicates that the omicron variant is more transmissible than delta, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.
The federal agency’s director Rochelle Walensky made the announcement in a White House briefing on Wednesday.
It comes as outbreaks of the variant have been confirmed in at least 36 US states.
Rory Sullivan15 December 2021 16:54
