Minister asked in the Lords by the opposition whether govnt is planning any campaign re current risks and booster jabs; and whether it has plans to re-introduce mandatory mask-wearing in hospitals

No answer so far - minister Kamal says govnt follows and depends on @UKHSA @UKHSA Asked by @LordPhilofBrum in #lords about current impact of covid on the elective backlog

Minister says "they [the nhs] are still focusing on the backlog. If it gets to a point where it is affecting the backlog then clearly new [covid control] measures may have to be introduced"

NEW Today's covid hospital numbers: The number of covid patients in English hospitals as topped 10,000 for the first time since the beginning of March.

Up nearly 1,000 on yesterday, again.

No clear sign of a slowdown in London, unfortunately.

1/x ICU covid numbers up notably across England today - but that is not part of a long-term pattern: generally these have been flat, which is a big part of the good news on omicron.

2/x

NEW today's daily figures - the number of covid-positive patients in hospitals across England up by nearly 1,000 in a day. From 7,536 reported yesterday to 8,474 today.

To point out the obvious: If that growth rate continues for long, there will soon be a big problem In London, growth remains faster than England overall, but has stopped accelerating.

Hancock @10DowningStreet presser: says around 90% in older age groups now have antibodies, thanks to vaccination programme @10DowningStreet "let's keep getting the numbers through the doors, but it's critical we loop back and invite again all those in vulnerable groups who haven't yet been vaccinated...it is worth that extra effort."

BREAKING - NHS has just been told "Government's Vaccines Task Force have now notified us there will be a significant
reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers beginning in week
commencing 29 March, meaning volumes for first doses will be significantly
constrained... "They now currently predict this will continue for a four-week period, as a
result of reductions in national inbound vaccines supply"

Handy timing ahead of Matt Hancock's appearance in front of the health committee on the subject of the white paper tomorrow

https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1371528495747174405

I wonder if MH will also be asked about these comments from Simon Stevens to @Jeremy_Hunt health committee last week - which indicated he had undertaken to publish a public interest reason given each time government wishes to direct NHS England, which would be 'justiciable'

Phew

NHS plans dated November, seen by HSJ at the time, included it now ramping up to peak rate of vaccination - 4.5-5.5 million doses given per week It assumed, at 75% uptake, 66.9m doses needed for whole population (risk and not) who want it.

IF the supply is there, then at 4.5m/week - it would take less than 15 weeks to complete the estimated 75%.

I wonder if this helps those interested in last winter V this winter... Adult critical care beds in London.
100% occupancy is not reached because that would be dangerous (and operationally foolish).
Instead, when they see occupancy rising and rising, hospitals have to open more critical care beds (aka 'surge'), to try to keep some margin.