NHS hospitals could soon be overwhelmed as the new variant leaves thousands of staff off sick with Covid, according to reports.
@LaurieChurchman outlines the story
🧵👇
trib.al/cna11KS
@LaurieChurchman outlines the story
🧵👇
trib.al/cna11KS
It is understood cabinet ministers were given the dire warning at a virtual government meeting this morning.
So many NHS staff are forecast to be off sick by January 15 that there could be too few medics to treat patients, The Sun reports.
So many NHS staff are forecast to be off sick by January 15 that there could be too few medics to treat patients, The Sun reports.
The Prime Minister and Government medics told the cabinet that even ‘the most conservative’ estimates of case numbers are looking ‘very bad,’ the paper says 📈
Hospitals in England have already been told to discharge as many patients as possible to free up beds amid the crisis.
Hospitals in England have already been told to discharge as many patients as possible to free up beds amid the crisis.
⚠️The NHS has been put on its highest state of alert and new emergency plans will allow the health service to scale back normal services ⚠️
Workers are being flown in from Spain and Greece to provide temporary relief over Christmas in hotels converted into care sites💊
Workers are being flown in from Spain and Greece to provide temporary relief over Christmas in hotels converted into care sites💊
The NHS also needs to free up staff so they can fulfil the government’s pledge to give every adult a booster jab in the next two weeks 💉
Experts have warned this will put the health service under huge strain.
Experts have warned this will put the health service under huge strain.
As cases of Omicron soar, the government is under pressure to bring in stricter curbs.
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon today outlined new guidelines on social contact, including asking for no more than three households to meet in social settings.
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon today outlined new guidelines on social contact, including asking for no more than three households to meet in social settings.
But Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted he was ‘not aware of any plans for further restrictions’.
🔴 Mr Javid has announced that all 11 countries on the coronavirus travel red list will be removed from 4am on Wednesday
🔴 Mr Javid has announced that all 11 countries on the coronavirus travel red list will be removed from 4am on Wednesday
The health secretary said the spread of Omicron in the UK and the world means the list is ‘now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad’.
He has told MPs Omicron now represents 20% of cases in England...
He has told MPs Omicron now represents 20% of cases in England...
... & more than 44% of cases in London, where it is soon expected to become the dominant strain 🦠️
Boris Johnson said people needed to recognise ‘the sheer pace at which [Omicron] accelerates through the population’.
Boris Johnson said people needed to recognise ‘the sheer pace at which [Omicron] accelerates through the population’.
🚨The PM also warned that people should put aside the idea that Omicron is a milder variant 🚨
For the full story 👇
trib.al/cna11KS
For the full story 👇
trib.al/cna11KS
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