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Covid live: UK test shortages ‘very worrying’ ahead of New Year; six Canadian provinces see record daily case rises Covid live: UK test shortages ‘very worrying’ ahead of New Year; six Canadian provinces see record daily case rises
(30 minutes later)
Nervtag’s Prof Openshaw warns New Year’s Eve ‘perfect’ conditions to transmit virus; Canadian provinces including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia set recordsNervtag’s Prof Openshaw warns New Year’s Eve ‘perfect’ conditions to transmit virus; Canadian provinces including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia set records
Portugal has cut the mandatory isolation period for people who test positive for Covid but are asymptomatic from 10 days to seven, even as new infections hit record highs.
The move, which also applies to high-risk contacts, came after health experts urged the government to rethink its policy amid concerns that the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant and lengthy quarantines could paralyse the country.
“This decision is aligned with guidelines from other countries and is a result of a technical and weighted consideration, given the incubation period of the now predominant variant, Omicron,” the DGS health authority said in a statement.
Portugal’s decision follows similar moves in other countries like Spain and the UK, where several industries reported disruption as staff had to isolate even if they weren’t showing symptoms.
The Portuguese island of Madeira on Wednesday also decided to cut mandatory isolation for asymptomatic people who test positive to five days, as well as for people who have close contact with confirmed cases.
Daily coronavirus cases have risen in Portugal this week, peaking at a record 28,659 on Thursday, due to the fast-spreading Omicron and amplified by an increase in mass testing.
Although the number of infections has skyrocketed, deaths and patients in intensive care units are not growing exponentially. Portugal has one of the world’s highest Covid vaccination rates, with around 87% of its 10-million population fully inoculated.
DGS registered 16 deaths on Thursday, up from Wednesday’s 12, while the number of patients in intensive care units fell to 144 from 151.
In late January, the number of daily deaths exceeded 300 and there were more than 900 patients in intensive care.
The number of people with Covid in hospitals in Wales has increased to 446 - 49% higher than last week, the Welsh government has said.
It has also announced that from Friday, people who have tested positive for Covid will have to isolate for seven rather than 10 days to help get people in critical jobs back to work.
In a written statement, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, said the public health situation in Wales had deteriorated with the seven-day case rate at more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 people across Wales. Cases are highest among 20- to 39-year-olds.
The first minister said hospitalisations remained lower than in previous waves, but these too are starting to increase. However, Wales is not seeing a rise in the number of patients with Covid-19 needing critical care.
Drakeford said Wales had a “significant stock of lateral flow tests, sufficient to meet our needs over the weeks ahead” and was loaning millions of tests to England.
On the isolation rules, Drakeford said:
Southern has cancelled trains to and from London Victoria for two weeks as a result of pandemic-related staff shortages.
Disruption to rail services has been worsening over the Christmas period while industrial action continues. Southern has now announced that none of its trains will run to or from London Victoria until 10 January owing to “coronavirus isolation and sickness”.
London Victoria is one of the UK’s busiest stations, and is normally connected by Southern to locations such as Brighton, Eastbourne and Portsmouth.
Many other operators in addition to Southern have cancelled trains owing to the pandemic. They include Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Greater Anglia, London North Eastern Railway, Northern, ScotRail, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales.
The suspension of Southern’s London Victoria services means it will not serve Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Common or Battersea Park.
More on this story here: Southern cancels London Victoria trains for two weeks over Covid
The Tories in Wales are trying to ratchet up the pressure on the Labour-led Welsh government to publish the scientific evidence behind its post-Christmas Covid restrictions.The Tories in Wales are trying to ratchet up the pressure on the Labour-led Welsh government to publish the scientific evidence behind its post-Christmas Covid restrictions.
They point out that little has been seen of Welsh ministers and are calling for them to also publish the latest figures of people with Omicron in hospital and NHS staff absence ratesThey point out that little has been seen of Welsh ministers and are calling for them to also publish the latest figures of people with Omicron in hospital and NHS staff absence rates
The Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies, said:The Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies, said:
Pope Francis has cancelled his traditional New Year’s Eve visit to the Nativity scene in St Peter’s Square over concerns of spreading coronavirus among the gathered crowds, AFP reports.Pope Francis has cancelled his traditional New Year’s Eve visit to the Nativity scene in St Peter’s Square over concerns of spreading coronavirus among the gathered crowds, AFP reports.
The pontiff is normally met by wellwishers when he visits the crib on 31 December, after presiding over the end-of-year Vespers and chanting of the Te Deum prayer.The pontiff is normally met by wellwishers when he visits the crib on 31 December, after presiding over the end-of-year Vespers and chanting of the Te Deum prayer.
But the Vatican said in a diary note on Thursday that “the event will not be held, to avoid gatherings and the subsequent risks of Covid-19 infection”.But the Vatican said in a diary note on Thursday that “the event will not be held, to avoid gatherings and the subsequent risks of Covid-19 infection”.
Francis, 85, on Wednesday held his weekly general audience as usual in the Paul VI hall in the Vatican, with masks and social distancing.Francis, 85, on Wednesday held his weekly general audience as usual in the Paul VI hall in the Vatican, with masks and social distancing.
But as elsewhere in Europe, Italy - and by extension the Vatican City State - is facing a surge in coronavirus cases fuelled by the Omicron variant.But as elsewhere in Europe, Italy - and by extension the Vatican City State - is facing a surge in coronavirus cases fuelled by the Omicron variant.
Earlier I posted an entry about seven European countries barring Turkish travellers. Reuters said that story was based on a travel guidance table from Turkey’s civil aviation authority (SHGM), which has been updated to remove references to such bans. The story has now been withdrawn by Reuters and has been removed here too. You may have to refresh the page.Earlier I posted an entry about seven European countries barring Turkish travellers. Reuters said that story was based on a travel guidance table from Turkey’s civil aviation authority (SHGM), which has been updated to remove references to such bans. The story has now been withdrawn by Reuters and has been removed here too. You may have to refresh the page.
Indian authorities started to impose stringent rules on Thursday to prevent mass gatherings at new year parties and public venues to combat a surge in Covid infections, even as top leaders led large political rallies, Reuters reports.Indian authorities started to impose stringent rules on Thursday to prevent mass gatherings at new year parties and public venues to combat a surge in Covid infections, even as top leaders led large political rallies, Reuters reports.
Night curfews have been imposed in all major cities and restaurants ordered to limit customers.Night curfews have been imposed in all major cities and restaurants ordered to limit customers.
However, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the home minister, Amit Shah, presided over public rallies in northern states with footage from the events showing thousands of people gathered in open grounds to hear their speeches.However, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the home minister, Amit Shah, presided over public rallies in northern states with footage from the events showing thousands of people gathered in open grounds to hear their speeches.
Last week an Indian court urged Modi’s government to suspend political rallies and election campaigns in poll-bound states amid the rising number of Omicron cases.Last week an Indian court urged Modi’s government to suspend political rallies and election campaigns in poll-bound states amid the rising number of Omicron cases.
Elections to the state assembly in Uttar Pradesh, home to over 220 million people, is a key battleground for Modi and opposition parties because of its size and because the performance of political parties there will be a barometer for the 2024 national elections.Elections to the state assembly in Uttar Pradesh, home to over 220 million people, is a key battleground for Modi and opposition parties because of its size and because the performance of political parties there will be a barometer for the 2024 national elections.
Final dates for polls are yet to declared but all political parties have launched their campaigns, disregarding social distancing.Final dates for polls are yet to declared but all political parties have launched their campaigns, disregarding social distancing.
The country reported 13,154 new Covid cases and 268 deaths in the last 24 hours, the federal health ministry said, with urban centres reporting a big rise. Cases of Omicron infections rose to 961.The country reported 13,154 new Covid cases and 268 deaths in the last 24 hours, the federal health ministry said, with urban centres reporting a big rise. Cases of Omicron infections rose to 961.
Police in the financial capital Mumbai prohibited public gatherings of five or more residents until 7 January as it recorded a sharp rise in cases with 2,510 infections, the highest daily increase since May, local authorities said.Police in the financial capital Mumbai prohibited public gatherings of five or more residents until 7 January as it recorded a sharp rise in cases with 2,510 infections, the highest daily increase since May, local authorities said.
“It is being seen that social gatherings are going on in an unrestricted manner with people flouting all social distancing norms... we are trying our best to control the spread of the virus,” said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of the western state of Maharashtra of which Mumbai is the capital.“It is being seen that social gatherings are going on in an unrestricted manner with people flouting all social distancing norms... we are trying our best to control the spread of the virus,” said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of the western state of Maharashtra of which Mumbai is the capital.
Tope said the next 48 hours were critical for authorities to prevent an escalation of fresh Covid cases.Tope said the next 48 hours were critical for authorities to prevent an escalation of fresh Covid cases.
While the government in the capital, New Delhi, closed cinemas, schools and gyms, state leader Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday held a public rally to celebrate victory in local polls in neighbouring Chandigarh city.While the government in the capital, New Delhi, closed cinemas, schools and gyms, state leader Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday held a public rally to celebrate victory in local polls in neighbouring Chandigarh city.
An Indian newspaper, Mint, quoted Paul Kattuman, professor at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge which has developed a Covid-19 India tracker stating that new infections will begin to rise in a few days, possibly this week.An Indian newspaper, Mint, quoted Paul Kattuman, professor at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge which has developed a Covid-19 India tracker stating that new infections will begin to rise in a few days, possibly this week.
“It is likely that India will see a period of explosive growth in daily cases and that the intense growth phase will be relatively short,” said Kattuman.“It is likely that India will see a period of explosive growth in daily cases and that the intense growth phase will be relatively short,” said Kattuman.
Now Christmas is over, the key to understanding the next part of the pandemic will be the number, and length, of hospitalisations, writes Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, in the Guardian today.Now Christmas is over, the key to understanding the next part of the pandemic will be the number, and length, of hospitalisations, writes Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, in the Guardian today.
An extract reads:An extract reads:
You can read the full piece here: Now Christmas is over, how bad is the Omicron situation in England?You can read the full piece here: Now Christmas is over, how bad is the Omicron situation in England?
The UK health secretary, Sajid Javid, has warned MPs he may need to “constrain” the Covid testing system over the next fortnight, as demand for lateral flow kits surges.The UK health secretary, Sajid Javid, has warned MPs he may need to “constrain” the Covid testing system over the next fortnight, as demand for lateral flow kits surges.
Ministers have repeatedly encouraged members of the public to test themselves using a lateral flow device (LFD) before attending gatherings or meeting vulnerable relatives.Ministers have repeatedly encouraged members of the public to test themselves using a lateral flow device (LFD) before attending gatherings or meeting vulnerable relatives.
However, test kits have repeatedly been unavailable online in recent days, and many pharmacies have complained of being unable to secure them.However, test kits have repeatedly been unavailable online in recent days, and many pharmacies have complained of being unable to secure them.
Labour has accused the government of presiding over a “shambles”, with many members of the public struggling to obtain tests despite ministers putting testing at the centre of efforts to control the spread of Omicron.Labour has accused the government of presiding over a “shambles”, with many members of the public struggling to obtain tests despite ministers putting testing at the centre of efforts to control the spread of Omicron.
Demand for the tests has also been boosted by a change in quarantine rules that allows people to emerge from self-isolation after seven days instead of 10, as long as they carry out two negative lateral flow tests.Demand for the tests has also been boosted by a change in quarantine rules that allows people to emerge from self-isolation after seven days instead of 10, as long as they carry out two negative lateral flow tests.
In a letter sent to MPs on Wednesday evening, Javid acknowledged the intense strain being put on the system as cases of the Omicron variant continue to increase, with 183,037 new infections recorded on Wednesday.In a letter sent to MPs on Wednesday evening, Javid acknowledged the intense strain being put on the system as cases of the Omicron variant continue to increase, with 183,037 new infections recorded on Wednesday.
He wrote:He wrote:
Javid reiterated the advice that the public should take a test “when engaging in activities that carry the greatest risk, and before coming into contact with people at risk of serious illness”.Javid reiterated the advice that the public should take a test “when engaging in activities that carry the greatest risk, and before coming into contact with people at risk of serious illness”.
He said MPs should suggest that constituents unable to source testing kits online or find any at their local pharmacist, should, “see whether their local authority is distributing tests” or seek them out at local community facilities, such as libraries.He said MPs should suggest that constituents unable to source testing kits online or find any at their local pharmacist, should, “see whether their local authority is distributing tests” or seek them out at local community facilities, such as libraries.
Read the full story here: Lateral flow tests to be ‘constrained’ over next two weeks, warns Sajid JavidRead the full story here: Lateral flow tests to be ‘constrained’ over next two weeks, warns Sajid Javid
Martti Ahtisaari, Finland’s former president and Nobel peace prize winner, is in hospital after testing positive for Covid for a second time, AFP reports.Martti Ahtisaari, Finland’s former president and Nobel peace prize winner, is in hospital after testing positive for Covid for a second time, AFP reports.
The 84-year-old former mediator of international conflicts first contracted the illness in March 2020.The 84-year-old former mediator of international conflicts first contracted the illness in March 2020.
“President Ahtisaari is doing well under the circumstances, but is being treated in hospital,” his foundation said on Thursday.“President Ahtisaari is doing well under the circumstances, but is being treated in hospital,” his foundation said on Thursday.
The president of Finland from 1994 until 2000, Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel prize in 2008 for his work to end conflicts in Indonesia, Namibia, Northern Ireland and the Balkans.The president of Finland from 1994 until 2000, Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel prize in 2008 for his work to end conflicts in Indonesia, Namibia, Northern Ireland and the Balkans.
Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, he announced his withdrawal from public life in September.Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, he announced his withdrawal from public life in September.
The former UN diplomat oversaw negotiations for reconciliation in 2005 between the Indonesian government and GAM rebels as well as Kosovo’s path toward independence.The former UN diplomat oversaw negotiations for reconciliation in 2005 between the Indonesian government and GAM rebels as well as Kosovo’s path toward independence.
Three-quarters of people across the UK with new cold-like symptoms are likely to have Covid but exponential case growth seems to have stopped, scientists have said.Three-quarters of people across the UK with new cold-like symptoms are likely to have Covid but exponential case growth seems to have stopped, scientists have said.
According to new analysis, the Zoe Covid study estimates that 75% of people experiencing new cold-like symptoms are likely to have symptomatic Covid-19, PA reports.According to new analysis, the Zoe Covid study estimates that 75% of people experiencing new cold-like symptoms are likely to have symptomatic Covid-19, PA reports.
That is up from about 50% last week, with the study reporting that the data was showing a fall in the number of non-Covid “colds” and a rise in symptomatic Covid infections.That is up from about 50% last week, with the study reporting that the data was showing a fall in the number of non-Covid “colds” and a rise in symptomatic Covid infections.
It also said the incidence figures show there are currently 192,290 new daily symptomatic cases of Covid in the UK on average, based on test data from up to three days ago. That is up 33% from the 144,284 reported last week.It also said the incidence figures show there are currently 192,290 new daily symptomatic cases of Covid in the UK on average, based on test data from up to three days ago. That is up 33% from the 144,284 reported last week.
The study also found that while the rise in cases appeared to be slowing in the 0 to 55 age groups it was “rising sharply” in the 55- to 75-year-old groups. It said this was “worrying” because this older age group was more at risk of needing hospital treatment.The study also found that while the rise in cases appeared to be slowing in the 0 to 55 age groups it was “rising sharply” in the 55- to 75-year-old groups. It said this was “worrying” because this older age group was more at risk of needing hospital treatment.
Dr Claire Steves, a scientist on the Zoe study app, said that while the number of daily new symptomatic Covid cases was more than double what it was this time last year, exponential growth appeared to have stopped.Dr Claire Steves, a scientist on the Zoe study app, said that while the number of daily new symptomatic Covid cases was more than double what it was this time last year, exponential growth appeared to have stopped.
But symptoms such as a sore throat, headache, and runny nose needed to be added to the government list of Covid symptoms as soon as possible, she added.But symptoms such as a sore throat, headache, and runny nose needed to be added to the government list of Covid symptoms as soon as possible, she added.
The new figures, published on Thursday, come after a new record was set for the daily number of Covid cases on Wednesday, as all four UK nations reported their figures for the first time since Christmas Eve.The new figures, published on Thursday, come after a new record was set for the daily number of Covid cases on Wednesday, as all four UK nations reported their figures for the first time since Christmas Eve.
The Zoe study also found there were 78,748 new daily symptomatic cases in the vaccinated population – those with at least two doses – across the UK, up 40% from 56,346 last week.The Zoe study also found there were 78,748 new daily symptomatic cases in the vaccinated population – those with at least two doses – across the UK, up 40% from 56,346 last week.
It estimates that on average one in 32 people in the UK currently have symptomatic Covid, rising to one in 30 in England.It estimates that on average one in 32 people in the UK currently have symptomatic Covid, rising to one in 30 in England.
In Wales it is one in 41, in Scotland it is one in 51, and in London one in 16 have symptomatic Covid, it added.In Wales it is one in 41, in Scotland it is one in 51, and in London one in 16 have symptomatic Covid, it added.
The Zoe study incidence figures are based on reports from around 840,000 weekly contributors.The Zoe study incidence figures are based on reports from around 840,000 weekly contributors.
Seven European nations have barred Turkish passengers from entering their countries as the Omicron variant spreads, according to travel guidance by Turkey’s civil aviation authority (SHGM).Seven European nations have barred Turkish passengers from entering their countries as the Omicron variant spreads, according to travel guidance by Turkey’s civil aviation authority (SHGM).
Daily Covid cases in Turkey have reached their highest level since April this week, surging to nearly 37,000, but the number is still significantly below figures reported in parts of Europe.Daily Covid cases in Turkey have reached their highest level since April this week, surging to nearly 37,000, but the number is still significantly below figures reported in parts of Europe.
The SHGM’s Covid-19 travel guidance, last updated on 28 December, said the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Croatia, Iceland and Switzerland would no longer accept Turkish passengers. It said Turkish passengers would need to show proof of vaccination when entering Portugal or Sweden.The SHGM’s Covid-19 travel guidance, last updated on 28 December, said the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Croatia, Iceland and Switzerland would no longer accept Turkish passengers. It said Turkish passengers would need to show proof of vaccination when entering Portugal or Sweden.
“Entry cannot be made from our country,” the SHGM list said for the seven European countries, without elaborating.“Entry cannot be made from our country,” the SHGM list said for the seven European countries, without elaborating.
The SHGM also updated travel restrictions for Iraq and Iran, saying passengers travelling to the two countries may be subject to 14-day quarantine upon entry, while other travellers would need a negative PCR test.The SHGM also updated travel restrictions for Iraq and Iran, saying passengers travelling to the two countries may be subject to 14-day quarantine upon entry, while other travellers would need a negative PCR test.
It was not immediately clear when the new restrictions were put in place or how long they would be in effect.It was not immediately clear when the new restrictions were put in place or how long they would be in effect.
The Netherlands announced a snap Christmas lockdown earlier this month, which will be reviewed on 14 January.The Netherlands announced a snap Christmas lockdown earlier this month, which will be reviewed on 14 January.
Other countries have seen record number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks, working to balance restrictions while keeping economies running.Other countries have seen record number of coronavirus cases in recent weeks, working to balance restrictions while keeping economies running.
Turkey has said it was not considering new restrictions for the moment, instead urging citizens to ramp up personal measures and get vaccinated. Ankara launched a nationwide rollout of its domestic Covid vaccine, Turkovac, on Thursday [see 11.26am.].Turkey has said it was not considering new restrictions for the moment, instead urging citizens to ramp up personal measures and get vaccinated. Ankara launched a nationwide rollout of its domestic Covid vaccine, Turkovac, on Thursday [see 11.26am.].
Three in 10 local authority areas in the UK are recording their highest rate of new Covid cases since mass testing began in summer 2020, new analysis shows.
The areas include around three-quarters of authorities in north-west England, nearly two-thirds in the West Midlands and almost half in the East Midlands.
But no London boroughs are on the list, while only a tiny number of areas in the south-east and eastern England are at record levels, suggesting the latest surge in cases may have peaked in these parts of the country.
In a similar survey in the week before Christmas, two-thirds of local authorities in London were reporting record case rates.
The new figures, which have been compiled by PA Media, show that:
29 of the 39 local authorities in north-west England now have record Covid-19 case rates, led by Barrow-in-Furness (1,554.1 cases per 100,000 people), Bury (1,489.7) and Warrington (1,471.4). Other areas at record levels include Blackpool, Bolton, Liverpool and Wigan.
In the West Midlands, 18 of the 30 local authorities are seeing record rates, led by Stafford (1,178.7), Lichfield (1,119.9) and Cannock Chase (1,085.9).
17 of the 40 local authorities in the East Midlands have record case rates, including Chesterfield (1,189.4), Leicester (1,036.3) and Lincoln (1,087.5).
London still has the highest local rates in the UK, accounting for nine of the top 10 and 17 of the top 20. Lambeth has the highest rate of all, 2,415.4, though this is down week-on-week from 3,029.1.
Only one of the 11 local authorities in Northern Ireland is currently not at a record high: Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon.
Northern Ireland also has the highest rate of the four UK nations (1,310.2), followed by England (1,226.0), Wales (1,150.4) and Scotland (1,068.2) - all of which are record highs.
Figures are for the seven days to 25 December, as data for more recent days is still incomplete.
In total, 112 of the 377 local authority areas in the UK (30%) are recording their highest Covid case rates since mass testing was rolled out across the country in May and June 2020.
Figures for case rates in the early months of the pandemic are not directly comparable, as only a small number of people were being tested, mostly in hospitals and care homes.
The contrast between the south and east corner of the UK, and the rest of the country, reflects the way the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has spread in recent weeks – in particular how London was the first area of the UK where Omicron became the dominant variant.
Of the 112 local authority areas with record case rates, only two are in south-east England (Cherwell and Worthing) and four are in eastern England (Bedford, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Mid Suffolk and South Norfolk).
In Scotland, 11 of the 32 local authorities are seeing record rates, along with eight of the 22 authorities in Wales.
In addition, 11 of the 21 local authorities in Yorkshire and Humber are at record levels, plus two of the 12 authorities in north-east England.
The number of deaths involving Covid registered each week in England and Wales dropped slightly ahead of Christmas, though it is too soon to see any impact in the figures of the current surge in Covid-19 cases, PA Media reports.
A total of 755 deaths registered in the week ending 17 December mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
That is down 1% on the previous week and is the lowest number of deaths since the week to 15 October, when the total was 713.
Deaths have remained at a low level throughout the latest wave of cases, with the weekly total between roughly 700 and 1,000 for the past few months.
By contrast, 8,433 deaths involving Covid were registered in England and Wales in the week to 29 January, at the peak of the second wave of the virus.
The rollout of vaccines has played a major role in keeping the number of deaths across the UK at a relatively low level since the second wave.
It is too early to tell if the surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant is affecting the number of Covid deaths, however.
Due to the typical length of time between infection, hospital admission and death – two to three weeks – the impact of the current record levels of cases will not be evident until January at the earliest.
The latest ONS figures also show that 60 care home resident deaths involving Covid in England and Wales were registered in the week to 17 December, down slightly from 65 the previous week.
In total, 44,466 care home residents in England and Wales have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began.
The figures cover deaths of care home residents in all settings, not just in care homes.
Overall, 174,392 deaths have now occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the ONS said.
The highest number on a single day was 1,485 on 19 January 2021.
During the first wave of the virus, the daily toll peaked at 1,461 on 8 April 2020.
Within weeks, the Omicron variant has fuelled thousands of new Covid hospitalisations among US children, raising new concerns about how the many unvaccinated Americans under the age of 18 will fare in the new surge, Reuters reports.
The seven-day average number of daily hospitalisations for children between 21 and 27 December is up more than 58% nationwide in the past week to 334, compared with about 19% for all age groups, data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. Fewer than 25% of the 74 million Americans under 18 are vaccinated, according to the CDC.
Omicron cases are expected to surge even faster across the US as schools reopen next week after the winter holiday, experts cautioned.
Doctors say it is too early to determine whether Omicron causes more severe illness in children than other coronavirus variants, but that its extremely high transmissibility is one key factor that is driving up hospitalisations.
“It is going to infect more people and it is infecting more people. We’ve seen numbers go up, we’ve seen hospitalisations in kids go up,” said Dr Jennifer Nayak, an infectious disease expert and paediatrician at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Even in New York City, which has some of the highest vaccination rates in the country, only around 40% of 5- to-17-year-olds are fully vaccinated compared with more than 80% of adults, city health data shows.
There is no authorised vaccine for US children under the age of five.
Hospitalisations in NYC of people aged 18 and younger increased from 22 the week starting 5 December to 109 between 19 and 23 December. Children under five represented almost half of the total cases.
Hospitalisations of people 18 and under in the entire state were at 184 from 19 and 23 December, up from 70 from 5 to 11 December.
Other parts of the country are also seeing a surge in cases among children. Ohio has seen a 125% increase in hospitalisations among children 17 and under in the past four weeks, according to data from the Ohio Hospital Association.
Florida, New Jersey and Illinois have witnessed an increase of at least double in the seven-day average daily hospitalisation of underage patients with the coronavirus over the past week, CDC data shows.
Young children have far lower vaccination rates than other age groups, with some families hesitating to introduce a new vaccine to their youngest members.
Fewer than 15% of US children aged 5-11 have been fully vaccinated since the Pfizer/BioNTech jab was authorised for that age group in late October, federal data shows.
Doctors said the more severe Covid symptoms they are seeing in hospitalised children this month include difficulty breathing, high fever, and dehydration.
“They need help breathing, they need help getting oxygen, they need extra hydration. They are sick enough to end up in the hospital, and that’s scary for doctors, and it’s scary for parents,” said Rebecca Madan, a paediatric infectious disease specialist at New York University’s Langone Health hospital system.
The surge in cases occurred as schools closed for the winter holidays. Before the vacation, more than a thousand classrooms have been either fully or partially quarantined due to outbreaks, according to New York City data. The city said it will open schools for about a million children as planned on 3 January, following the district’s winter recess.
Research has shown that a substantial amount of transmission among children tends to happen outside of schools. But Madan and others expect a new rise in cases among children from holiday gatherings, which could disrupt classroom attendance.
Good morning from New Orleans. I’m Lucy Campbell, I’ll be bringing you all the latest global developments on the coronavirus pandemic for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_
Prof Peter Openshaw, who sits on the UK’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) has warned the conditions at a New Year’s Eve gathering were “perfect” for spreading coronavirus, and said a lack of availability of testing in the UK was “very worrying indeed”.
At the time of writing, there were no lateral flow tests available for delivery from the UK government website. Scotland and Wales still had bookable PCR tests, but Northern Ireland had “very few available” and no region of England had any available.
NHS England confirmed that it was creating new small-scale “Nightingale” facilities with up to 100 beds each at eight hospitals across the country. The health service said it had asked trusts to identify empty spaces to accommodate beds in places such as gyms or teaching areas. NHS managers are aiming to create up to 4,000 beds as surge capacity if needed.
Prof Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said he feels “most worried” about unvaccinated people. “Those who are unvaccinated remain at risk here in the UK and in other countries around the world, so that perhaps needs to be our focus.”
Chris Hopson, the head of NHS Providers, which represents health trusts has said staff absences due to Covid-19 were “clearly now having a significant impact” across the whole economy and parts of the health service.
Labour’s shadow culture secretary, Lucy Powell, has repeated calls for action over viral disinformation about vaccines being spread online. She said “It’s becoming an issue for the whole of society, who might now be facing further restrictions or huge pressure on the NHS because there are people who are choosing not to have the vaccine because of myths and misinformation that they are being fed online.”
Coronavirus infections set new one-day highs in six of Canada’s provinces, prompting several provinces to impose more restrictions in hopes of containing the spread of the omicron variant.
In Australia, fewer people will be told to get tested for Covid, with most states backing a much narrower definition of a close contact, as a record 21,000 new daily cases were recorded nationwide.
Americans are again facing a stay-at-home New Year’s Eve as US political leaders and senior health advisers have urged people to scrap party plans and avoid larger public events as daily cases of Covid-19 break all previous records.
India is on the threshold of a potential new wave of coronavirus – probably fuelled by the Omicron variant. Cases have surged by 86% in the Indian capital New Delhi in 24 hours, and doubled in Mumbai in the same period.
Health leaders in eastern European countries with low vaccination rates like Romania are warning of a January wave of infections after the holiday period.
The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that reducing mandatory isolation periods for people with Covid-19 was a trade-off between controlling transmission and keeping economies up and running. Michael Ryan told a news conference “If people shorten the quarantine period, there will be a small number of cases that will develop disease and potentially go on to transmit, because they have been let out of quarantine earlier. But that will be a relatively small number, and a lot of people who won’t transmit will also be released from that quarantine.”
Armed police in Jingxi, in southern China, have paraded four alleged violators of Covid rules through the streets, state media reported, a practice that was banned but which has resurfaced in the struggle to enforce a zero-Covid policy.
That is it from me, Martin Belam. I am off to host our silly Thursday quiz. Lucy Campbell will be here shortly to bring you the rest of the days news on Covid from the UK and around the world.
US airline JetBlue has said it is reducing its schedule through to 13 January by about 1,280 flights due to a surge in crew members falling sick from the Omicron coronavirus variant.
Carriers have been canceling hundreds of flights every day in the United States since Christmas Eve as they grapple with staff shortages due to Covid infections and bad weather in parts of the country.
“We expect the number of Covid cases in the north-east, where most of our crew members are based, to continue to surge for the next week or two,” JetBlue’s spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “This means there is a high likelihood of additional cancellations until case counts start to come down.”
The chairman of the Royal College of GPs has criticised “mixed messages” over the supply of Covid tests in the UK after the health secretary was quoted as saying there was a global shortage.
Prof Martin Marshall said the demand for tests had gone up “dramatically” as people seek to check their Covid status before socialising or coming out of isolation. PA Media quote him telling Times Radio:
The Spectator has firmly nailed its colours to the mast that Omicron is going to be milder and lead to fewer and shorter hospital admissions than previous coronavirus variants.
One of its data journalists, Michael Simmons, has extracted this chart from numbers included in recent Sage documents, which paints an optimistic picture of shorter hospital stays since December for patients who survive a Covid hospitalisation.
As with the numbers from the UK dashboard earlier, I suspect this chart will either confirm you in your beliefs that the UK government and the devolved authorities have been over-reacting to a mild new Covid strain, or will do little to persuade you that the health service isn’t already under pressure with a potentially huge wave of hospitalisations still coming as the UK continues to rack up record daily case numbers.
This will be a familiar sight to anybody who has been trying to book a rapid lateral flow test from the government website in the UK, and it is the state of play again at the moment.