UK Daily COVID Numbers & Omicron Overview (Dec 30th)

 

#16,472

The UK's Health Security Agency updated today's COVID numbers more than 3 hours later than usual, citing data collection problems.  Once again, the UK has set a new record with 189,213 new cases - which likely under represents the true burden of the virus - along with a jump in COVID-related deaths (n=332). 

This jump in deaths appears to be the result of a data backlog. Given the reporting interruptions over the Christmas (and soon to be New Year's) Holidays, we'll have to wait a week or so to see if deaths are truly rising, or if this is just an aberration. 

Although COVID patients admitted to the hospital has increased by 32% over 7 days, this data is only current through Dec. 24th, making it difficult to draw any conclusions about Omicron's impact. 

The next-to-last Omicron Daily Overview, which will reportedly be discontinued after tomorrow's report, shows a modest increase in Omicron-related Hospitalizations, and one additional Omicron-related death. 




Once again, reporting is `iffy' at best, and unlikely to improve until later next week.