Thread by @FLAHAULT

1/9 - “#COVID19 infections among over-70s in the UK surged to a record high in mid-March driven by the highly infectious #Omicron #BA2 sub-variant, according to the Office for National Statistics.”
ft.com/content/b4bf71…

2/9 - “Infection rates jumped in every region of the UK, apart from Northern Ireland. Scotland recorded its highest infection rates of the pandemic so far. In England, one in 20 people had #COVID19 over the same period, compared with one in 25 a week earlier.”

3/9 - “The surge in infections has already begun to contribute to increased hospitalisations. As of March 17, there were 14,671 #COVID19 patients in hospitals across the UK, an increase of 38 per cent in the past fortnight.”

4/9 - “These increases are largely driven by the marked rise of the #Omicron #BA2 sub-variant. Over-75s and immunocompromised people in the UK are set to be offered an additional booster dose from the end of the month.”

5/9 - “At this level of prevalence and the decision not to halt the spread, the most likely outcome is that almost everyone who is susceptible is going to be infected. The main concern is for the vulnerable and for those whose lives will be blighted by long #COVID19.”

6/9- “Stopping legally enforced self-isolation in England would have made the wave more difficult to contain now that fewer sick people are staying at home. On Mar 16, hospitals recorded 1,823 #COVID19 admissions, an increase of 20% in a week and the highest figure since Jan 13.”

7/9 - “There was an expectation that there would be an uptick once measures were lifted, but people weren’t expecting quite as steep an increase, so soon. We need to keep a close eye on it. There is a danger that people have been lulled into a false sense of security.”

8/9 - “The other UK nations have also begun to unwind restrictions in recent weeks, but on Tuesday the Scottish government postponed the end to compulsory mask-wearing until April, citing concerns over #BA2.”

9/9 - “A large proportion of registered #COVID19 patients are not being treated primarily for the disease and instead tested positive incidentally after being admitted. In England, they account for 56% of #COVID19 patients.”