UK reports highest number of daily Covid cases since pandemic began

LONDON — The U.Ok. reported a report number of new daily Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, with 78,610 within the final 24 hours.

The determine was a rise from 59,610 the day earlier than, and it surpasses the earlier excessive of 68,053 cases reported on Jan. 8.

It underlines the dramatic surge in infections that the nation is seeing forward of the Christmas vacation interval with the omicron variant anticipated to rapidly change into the dominant pressure. One senior British well being chief has warned that there could possibly be a “staggering” numbers within the subsequent few days.

Long strains have been seen exterior vaccination facilities in lots of U.Ok. cities and cities with the federal government placing its booster program on overdrive to attempt to get a 3rd vaccine shot to as many individuals as doable.

There have been 165 new Covid deaths within the U.Ok. on Wednesday, in line with authorities knowledge. While deaths stay low presently and preliminary reports counsel that the omicron variant won’t be any extra extreme than different strains, well being specialists have repeatedly warned that the sheer number of infections might result in mounting fatalities and an overwhelmed health-care system.

U.Ok. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday that at the very least one affected person contaminated with the brand new omicron variant had died within the nation. It was the primary publicly confirmed loss of life globally from the brand new heavily-mutated pressure.

Johnson has additionally warned Britain faces a “tidal wave” of omicron infections, and has introduced that the England could be dashing up its booster program to supply all adults a 3rd dose of a vaccine by the tip of the yr. The authorities had beforehand been aiming to increase its booster scheme to all over-18s by the tip of January.