(London) The United Kingdom, faced with a meteoric spread of the Omicron variant, recorded more than 122,000 additional COVID-19 cases on Friday, a new record since the start of the pandemic.
The country, one of the most affected in Europe by the pandemic, recorded 137 additional deaths in 24 hours – to reach a total of 147,857 – but also 1,171 hospitalizations, marking an acceleration while this data, closely monitored, remained little changed for the time being.
Each nation in the UK is responsible for health matters. So far, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have announced tougher restrictions which are due to go into effect after Christmas.
For England, Boris Johnson’s government is procrastinating, relying in particular on studies showing a lower risk of hospitalization with the Omicron variant compared to the dominant Delta until recently.
The authorities fear, however, that despite a lower risk of severe form, the number of cases is so high that it puts insurmountable pressure on the hospital system.
Welcoming these studies as “a beacon of hope for Christmas”, the director of the British health security agency Jenny Harries explained that the authorities were monitoring the impact of the epidemic on hospitals but also on society for their decisions. as a whole and in particular on the workforce.
In London, one in 20 people had COVID-19 a week ago, according to estimates. Many sectors are now being hit hard, leading to business closures and transport cancellations.