Covid-19: the numbers...

THE NEWER OMICRON variant had a tenfold increase in the number of cases during the first week it was identified. Soon after more than 90,000 cases were identified in one single day in the UK, leading to changes in the defence against the pandemic.

Booster vaccinations have been increased, and physical distancing measures reimposed. The First Minister made an address to the nation stating that in Scotland cases could rise to around 15,000 per day. In the last quarter of 2021 cases had been running at around 3,000 or so a day.

The number of those vaccinated with the first dose in the UK has now risen to an impressive 52 million people (and counting) which is around 90% of the UK population over the age of 12. But perhaps the most sobering number is that around 1,000 people in the UK are currently in hospital beds which have a mechanical ventilator.