As cases fall, has Omicron finally peaked?
COvID infections have fallen by a tenth in a week with cases now appearing to plateau in most regions.
There were 142,224 new positive tests reported in the UK yesterday – down 10 per cent from 157,758 last Monday. The latest number is down significantly from the record high of 218,724 last Tuesday.
The seven-day average has fallen in all regions but the North East. It suggests the Omicron wave may be peaking or have already peaked in many areas.
The number of Covid patients in ventilator beds in England has fallen from 777 last Monday to 707 yesterday. The difference is likely to be due to new treatments and vaccines, which have proved effective at protecting against severe disease. The number of Covid patients admitted to and in hospital has risen slightly, although some will have been primarily admitted for an unrelated condition.
There were 1,862 Covid patients admitted to hospital on Saturday, taking the total in hospital to 17,120, up 20 per cent from a week earlier and the highest number since February 15 last year. During the second wave, the number peaked at 34,336 on January 18, 2021.
There are more spaces in critical care beds in England than in the same period last year. Some 25 per cent of beds were available on January 2 this year, versus 20 per cent on the same date last year.
In north-east England and Yorkshire, patient numbers are up 40 per cent weekon-week to 2,758, the highest since February 11, 2021; numbers peaked at 3,891 on January 25, 2021.
In north-west England, numbers are up 34 per cent week-on-week to 3,206. In London the number stands at 3,930, up 2 per cent week-on-week but below the recent total of 4,074 on January 5.
A further 77 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid, bringing the total to 150,230. On the same date last year there were 563 deaths reported.