It’s nearly over say doctors as cases plummet
A frontline nHS consultant has told of his confidence that the end of the pandemic is ‘now in sight’ as infections fall across Britain.
Dr richard Cree said patients are less ill than previously and the omicron variant is ‘waning’.
it came as the office for national Statistics reported a ‘welcome decrease’ in infections and Health Secretary Sajid Javid last night declared: ‘omicron is in retreat.’
Dr Cree, an intensive care consultant at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital, said: ‘fortunately, the number of Covid patients being admitted each day has begun to decrease and the situation should continue to improve.’
He wrote in his nomoresurgeons.com blog that there was still a significant number of people in hospital. He added: ‘Despite the strain that the hospital is currently under, i am confident that the worst will soon be behind us and that the end is now in sight.’
onS data shows that one in 20 people in england is estimated to have had coronavirus in the week to January 15 – equivalent to 3million compared to 3.7million in the week to January 6. rates are also down in Scotland and Wales, but the trend is ‘uncertain’ in northern ireland.
in england, the percentage of people testing positive decreased in all age groups in the most recent week except among those aged two to 11.
the Government’s daily figures show cases over the past seven days have fallen by 37 per cent, with 108,069 new infections reported yesterday.
this is down from 129,587 the previous Wednesday and a peak of 218,724 on January 4. Hospitals in england admitted 1,808 patients with the virus on Monday – down from a recent high of 2,370 on December 29.
there are now 15,742 patients in hospital with the virus, which is also down from 17,120 on January 10.
the number of Covid patients on ventilators is down to levels last seen in July. However, another 359 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid test.
the onS figures show infections have fallen in all regions of england except the north east and South West, where the trend is ‘uncertain’.
Professor Mike tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic influenza Modelling group, said the data suggested infections were in decline.
He added: ‘there’s one caveat and that’s obviously younger age groups… we are still seeing an increase in infection rates in primary age children.’
Asked if the end of the pandemic was in sight, Professor tildesley said: ‘You can never rule out that a new variant might come along that is more transmissible and more severe.
‘My hope is that doesn’t happen. i can be cautiously optimistic based upon what we’re seeing that cases are declining and hopefully that trend will continue.’
‘Omicron is on the retreat’