Omicron hospitalisations and cases seem to plateau in London

Cases and admissions as a result of the Omicron variant of Covid have appeared to peak in London without overwhelming the NHS.

Weekly case rates have been decreasing in the capital since December 26.

Following 21 December there were major drops in case number.

There was then an uptick to 32,316 recorded on December 29.

On the same day there were 500 hospital admissions.

On 1 January 314 patients who had tested positive for the virus were admitted to hospital in the capital.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said earlier today that hospital admissions due to Covid have “plateaued” in London. However, he stressed that they are rising across the rest of the UK.

He argued that there “may be a second peak after the new year” as figures showed admissions falling from a peak of 500 in the capital on December 29.

Prime minister Boris Johnson will lead a press conference at 5pm today with England’s chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.