Britain's ever-growing wave of Omicron soared to yet another pandemic high today as Boris Johnson warned of 'challenges' in the weeks ahead.
Department of Health bosses logged another 189,846 positive tests, eclipsing yesterday's single-day record by a fraction and marking a 55 per cent surge on last Friday.
Hospitalisations have soared by 65 per cent over the same time-frame, with NHS wards in England now as busy as during the devastating second wave last January. Another 203 deaths were registered but the figures are inflated and include fatalities that weren't posted over the festive period.
It comes ahead of New Year's celebrations tonight, which have been allowed to go ahead in England without any further Covid curbs. In contrast, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have imposed restrictions.
But No10 could still change direction next week, with the Prime Minister set to decide then on whether to impose new restrictions to limit indoor socialising after warning in his message for 2022 that there will be 'challenges' in New Year.
As well as rising Covid case and hospital numbers, NHS staffing absences have doubled in a fortnight and fuelled fears that new measures could be on the horizon. MPs have asked the PM to call an emergency Cobra meeting to 'thrash out a rescue plan' to save the NHS from its 'devastating' workforce crisis.
But in his New Year's Eve message, Mr Johnson insisted that the nation's position in the battle against the disease is now 'incomparably better than last year', thanks to the vaccine rollout.
Despite admissions spiking to levels not seen during the depths of the second wave and forcing health chiefs into constructing eight mini-'Nightingale' wards in a last-ditch insurance policy, the number of critically ill coronavirus patients remains flat.
Chris Hopson, the head of NHS Providers, admitted the threshold for taking action 'hasn't been crossed yet'.
The latest coronavirus developments came as:
England is currently subject to 'Plan B' restrictions, with people told to wear face masks in many indoor settings and to work from home if possible.
Mr Johnson did not follow the actions of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in imposing new rules after Christmas, with all three devolved governments putting in place curbs on socialising.
Thousands of revellers from Scotland and Wales are expected to cross the border today to enjoy 'normal' New Year's Eve celebrations at pubs and clubs in England.
As people prepared to celebrate, Mr Johnson said in is his New Year's Eve message: 'Happy New Year, 2022 is almost upon us.
'And whatever the challenges that fate continues to throw in our way and whatever the anxieties we may have about the weeks and months ahead, particularly about Omicron and the growing numbers in hospitals, we can say one thing with certainty - our position this December the 31st is incomparably better than last year.'
The PM said there was 'one overriding reason why the UK has been able to maintain the most open economy and society of any major European economy' as he praised the vaccine rollout.
'That is because the British people have responded heroically, voluntarily, and in almost incredible numbers to the call to get vaccinated,' he said.
'And as I speak tonight on New Year's Eve, we've met our target, we've doubled the speed of the booster roll out.
'And it's precisely because of that huge national effort that we can celebrate tonight at all. Though I must of course urge everyone to be cautious and to take a test if you are going out and to remember the importance of ventilation. Follow the rules if you are in Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland.'
Mr Johnson also delivered a direct plea to people in the UK who are not yet fully vaccinated to come forward and get the jab.
'The people who think the disease can't hurt them - look at the people going into hospital now, that could be you,' he said.
'Look at the intensive care units and the miserable, needless suffering of those who did not get their booster, that could be you.
'So, make it your New Year's resolution - far easier than losing weight or keeping a diary - find a walk-in centre or make an online appointment. Get that jab and do something that will make 2022 a happy New Year for us all.'
The PM's comments came as NHS bosses said the Government's threshold for imposing new Covid restrictions has not yet been met but warned ministers must be ready to act if the situation deteriorates.
Mr Hopson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Look, it is the Government that sets the rules on restrictions, not the NHS and we know that the Government has set a high threshold on introducing extra new restrictions.
'So on that basis trust leaders can see why the Government is arguing that in the absence of a surge of seriously ill older patients coming into hospital, that threshold hasn't yet been crossed.
'But we still don't know if the surge will come and indeed we are exactly talking about the preparations that we are making for that surge right now.'
Mr Hopson said restrictions will need to be brought in 'at pace if we need them'.
'In terms of restrictions I think we are in exactly the same place we have been in for the last fortnight which is the Government needs to be ready to introduce tighter restrictions at real speed should they be needed,' he said.
'And just to make the point that is somewhat different to a headline that states that NHS leaders thinks there is no need for more curbs. They may be needed at pace if the evidence warrants it.'
'And just one more important point I think, which is it is worth remembering that it does take about a fortnight for any new restrictions to effect the levels of hospital admissions so the pattern of hospital admissions for the next fortnight has already been set.
'So in terms of restrictions we should bring them in at pace if we need them but trust leaders understand why the Government having set a very high threshold that actually that threshold hasn't yet been crossed.'
Meanwhile, Professor Peter Openshaw, who sits on the Government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), told BBC Breakfast that he believes it is likely that the NHS will be overwhelmed by Omicron.
He said: 'I think we haven't quite reached the threshold that was set by Government in terms of the NHS being overwhelmed, but it looks like that will be reached quite quickly.
'What I'm very concerned about is our NHS staff, my dear colleagues who have worked so, so hard all through the repeated waves of this infection. How are they going to cope?
'We need to really extend our care to them and give every support and do everything we can to make the NHS a great place to work, which of course it is in the main, but I'm really very concerned indeed for NHS staff.'
Concerns over the spread of Omicron came as the Government scrambles to resolve a testing supply crisis.
Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, has told MPs that lateral flow tests are set to be in short supply for another two weeks as officials grapple with 'huge demand'.
In a letter sent out to all MPs in England yesterday, Mr Javid warned supplies would have to be prioritised for vulnerable groups, such as care home residents.
He also revealed the UK had trebled its order of lateral flows over January and February, from 100 to 300million.
It came as many Britons were left unable to get kits for the third day running — despite ministers urging people to take the swabs before heading out to New Year's celebrations.
The Government website was offering lateral flow tests at 1pm yesterday, but by 1.15pm it was once again telling people none were available.
Pharmacies have even started putting up signs telling customers they have no lateral flow tests — even for those who have pre-booked an order and have a code.
Wales has now stepped in to help Downing Street, loaning more than 4million lateral tests to England.
Despite the shortages, pictures yesterday showed contractors dishing out boxes of the in-demand kits. In Slough, packs of seven and 20 swabs were given out outside a Nando's.
Ministers have blamed a 'global supply issue' for the crisis. There are also problems accessing PCRs in some areas.
Fears are mounting that the swab crisis could stifle the UK's economy, with millions needlessly forced to self-isolate because they are unable to get tests to prove they no longer have the virus on day six and seven of quarantine.
The latest Covid data came as separate figures for NHS England show that one in three patients hospitalised with Covid in England aren't actually being treated for the virus itself, official data revealed today.
Official figures show the proportion of so-called 'incidental' admissions – patients who happen to test positive after seeking care for a different ailment – is continuing to tick upwards.
Just 5,578 of the 8,321 virus-infected patients receiving hospital care in England on December 28 were primarily being treated for Covid, equating to around 67 per cent.
This is down from 71 per cent from a week prior and 74 per cent down from the start of December, in another sign the Omicron wave is milder than previous surges.
These cases are from patients taken to hospital for an unrelated reason, such as a fall or broken bone, who just happen to then discover they also have the virus.
It means thousands of patients who are being counted as coronavirus admissions – suggesting they are severely ill with the condition – are not actually suffering seriously with the virus.
Many only tested positive once they were on wards – and may have simply caught the virus while there.
It has raised concerns that the headline statistics – which drive Government decisions on restrictions and lockdowns – are overestimating how many people are dangerously sick with Covid.
The NHS is also dealing with staff Covid sickness as damning statistics emerged today showing the number of doctors and nurses off work because of the virus has doubled in the fortnight before Christmas, with 28,000 absences on Boxing Day alone.
With rising cases and hospitlistations due to the spread of Omicron experts fear the situation will only get worse over the next few weeks, and that the 'perfect storm' could see patients 'turned away or face waiting hours for an ambulance'.
Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said NHS services were stretched to breaking point', and it's 'now or never for the Government to get a handle on a crisis that is quickly spiralling beyond their control'.
She urged the Prime Minister to convene an urgent meeting with senior members of his cabinet, saying the health service was in 'desperate need of support'.
The staffing crisis comes amid growing calls for ministers to prioritise lateral flow tests for NHS workers. Unions today warned that thousands of medics were unable to turn up for their shifts because they could not get tested 'at a time of acute workforce shortages and winter pressures'.
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