Covid News Live: Omicron leads US cases past Delta peak, as UK hospitals face ‘overwhelmed’

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Covid around the world: How Omicron affects the holidays

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the United States has pushed the number of daily coronavirus cases beyond the peak of the delta wave, according to multiple estimates based on official data indicating a daily average of more than 165,000 newly reported infections.

It came as the UK reported a record rise in coronavirus cases for a second day in a row, with 119,789 new cases coming in after infections topped 100,000 for the first time on Wednesday – although the actual numbers are undoubtedly much higher.

England’s national medical director Stephen Powis has warned that the NHS is on a “war basis”, as it struggles with a sharp rise in staff with Covid-19, amid soaring hospital admissions.

This is despite an early analysis by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), published on Thursday, which indicated that people who develop Omicron are 50 to 70 per cent less likely to need hospital care than previous variants.

Health Minister Sajid Javid said that while the UKHSA’s findings were “promising”, Omicron cases continued to rise at an “extraordinary rate”, adding: “Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed”. .

Latest update shows 1640315121 more Marines were laid off due to vaccine refusal, for a total of 169

The Marine Corps pulled 66 Marines last week for refusing to receive a coronavirus vaccine as mandated by the Army, bypassing other services in the discipline related to shots.

The Corps’ latest measure, which came with a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country as a result of the omicron variant, raised the total number of Marines dismissed from service due to a vaccine refusal to 169.

Read more about the controversy here.

The Oklahoma National Guard has also resisted vaccine mandates.

Josh Marcus Dec 24, 2021 03:05

1640311521 AstraZeneca and Novavax say their vaccines protect against the Omicron variant

Pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Novavax both have announced that their Covid-19 vaccines offer protection against the new Omicron variant.

AstraZeneca said in a statement Thursday that an Oxford University study found that three doses of its vaccine — a two-dose initial vaccine followed by a booster dose — are effective against the variant.

The three doses gave patients a similar level of antibodies against Omicron as did two doses of the vaccine against the delta variant, they said..

More by Rachel Sharp from The Independent.

Josh Marcus Dec 24, 2021 02:05

1640307921 Looking for a COVID-19 test means completely sold out banners and long lines

President Joe Biden has promised to distribute hundreds of millions of free COVID-19 tests and open more testing sites to combat the growing infection, but the massive efforts won’t come in time for people who want to know if they’re infected before the holidays.

Americans have been searching pharmacies for rare home tests or waiting hours in cooler temperatures at testing facilities across the country.

said Jordan Thomas, who waited nearly four hours for a test this week in the Brooklyn area of ​​New York City.

More information about the fight to gain access to testing in the United States here.

Josh Marcus Dec 24, 2021 01:05

1640304321 ‘This is not a plan, this is hope’: John Hopkins expert questions Biden’s Covid test kit pledge

Joe Biden’s promise to provide 500m of at-home Covid tests to Americans nationwide is ambitious, but some health officials fear the initiative is ultimately unrealistic and ineffective.

Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, spoke with The New York Times about how the program’s launch will ultimately determine its effectiveness.

“If you do those tests in January and February, it could have an effect, but if it’s spread out over 10 to 12 months, I’m not sure what kind of effect it’s going to have,” she said.

More from The Independent by Greg Graziosi.

Josh Marcus Dec 24, 2021 00:05

1640300721 ​​Orlando Global Brings Back Mask Base As COVID Cases Rise

Universal Orlando is bringing back its mask requirements beginning on Christmas Eve as COVID-19 cases are on the rise as a result of the omicron variant.

Daily coronavirus cases quadrupled in the past week in Florida, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the number of hospitalizations increased by 12%.

But one of Miami Jackson Health’s largest hospital networks, reported twice as many COVID-19 patients Thursday than it did a week ago.

Josh Marcus Dec 23, 2021 23:05

Florida scraps pro-vaccine ads in favor of ads that don’t mention Covid shot

The Florida Department of Health moved in early November to end a Public Service Advisory (PSA) campaign aimed at encouraging vaccinations in favor of new advertisements that do not mention vaccinations as an effective measure to treat Covid-19.

The state, which is currently experiencing a massive surge in new Covid-19 infections amid the spread of the Omicron variant, appears to have moved last month to end its efforts to encourage state residents to receive the bronchial vaccination. A local news company, WPLG, reported the change on Tuesday.

Previous advertisements pushed by the Florida Department of Health on local television stations described the Covid-19 vaccine as “easy, safe and effective” in preventing Covid-19.

Details with John Bowden.

Josh Marcus Dec 23, 2021 22:05

1640297076 Omicron leads daily US cases beyond peak delta

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the United States appears to have pushed the number of daily coronavirus cases beyond the peak of the delta wave seen earlier this year.

Both Reuters and The New York Times estimate, based on official data, that the average number of reported daily infections is over 165,000 and 168,000, respectively — both exceeding the delta-driven wave crest that each news organization has previously estimated.

Andy Gregory Dec 23, 2021 22:04

1640295025 Anti-Defamation Protesters Mix Up Alan Shearer

Anti-vaccination protesters tried to “send papers” to former soccer player Alan Shearer – but left them in the wrong house.

The former England captain and Newcastle United champion last week urged people to get a boost in a video promoted by the Premier League.

His stance prompted anti-vaccination protesters to film themselves on Wednesday outside an address near Newcastle believed to be his family’s home.

It is not clear what the papers contain, but anti-vaccination protesters routinely exchange templates of supposed legal documents that they themselves are filing.

Andy Gregory, December 23, 2021, 21:30

1640294160A ‘Emergency’ for the NHS

Scientists fear Omicron could spread among hospital patients and staff at a rate similar to the wider community, disrupting the NHS despite new evidence that it causes less serious disease than previous strains.

“Right now we’re in the situation we’ve been in for several weeks, and it’s basically a health service emergency, and you’ll be in that state for a few weeks,” said Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Consortium, which represents the trusts.

Mr Taylor said that with the combined pressure of emergency ordering, tackling cancer waiting times, a planned care backlog, social care issues, winterization and high levels of staff absenteeism, all the NHS could do was “manage crises” effectively.

My colleagues Rebecca Thomas and Samuel Lovett have this extensive article on the current situation within the NHS:

Andy Gregory Dec 23, 2021 21:16

1640293056 EXCLUSIVE: Mental health patients wait more than 12 hours at A&E for beds as services face a ‘desperate’ situation

NHS data, seen by The Independent, revealed that nearly all mental health hospitals in London were in ‘black alert’ levels of bed availability during October and November, meaning their beds were almost 100 per cent full.

A senior national source warned that the situation is similar across the country, with all mental health trust funds filled at roughly 94 percent and services at their most stressed out ever.

The Independent could also reveal that thousands of mental health patients across the capital attended A&E in crisis every week from September to November, with 50 patients a week waiting more than 12 hours to get a bed, compared to 35 during the same period last year. .

Our health reporter Rebecca Thomas has the full exclusive report here:

Andy Gregory Dec 23, 2021 20:57

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