3000 a day, as cases of the 0micron variant surge. the comments appear in leaked minutes from a meeting of the government s scientific advisory group for emergencies. leading infectious diseases expert professor neil ferguson says the situation looks precarious. here s our health correspondent, katharine da costa. there s no time to lose jabs are now available 2a hours a day at this vaccine centre in north london, as nhs staff and volunteers across the country strive to reach1 million jabs a day. currently around 800 covid patients are being admitted each day in england, but leaked minutes from government scientific advisers suggest that without further measures, we could see a surge of 1000 to 2000 admissions a day by the end of the year, and a possible peak of around 3000 a day. similar to levels in early january. to avoid significant pressure, sage advisers say.
treat nhs that they are also having to treat additional covid patients. what treat additional covid patients. what is treat additional covid patients. what is this going to look like in a few weeks time? it almost seems like the perfect storm for what the government has called a tidal wave of 0micron. what impact are we likely to see in the coming weeks or months? irate likely to see in the coming weeks or months? ~ ., ~ ., . , months? we do know that this articular months? we do know that this particular version months? we do know that this particular version of months? we do know that this particular version of the i months? we do know that this particular version of the covidl particular version of the covid virus particular version of the covid virus is particular version of the covid virus is incredibly transmissible. the doubt virus is incredibly transmissible. the doubt our virus had an average of around the doubt our virus had an average of around 1 2. we thin
balance of not having a peak that threatens the integrity of the health service and throws a lot of other essential services into disarray, at least same time as trying to ensure we get over this fairly quickly is not going to be easy. fairly quickly is not going to be eas . ., ~ fairly quickly is not going to be eas . . ~ , ., fairly quickly is not going to be eas. . ~ i. ., fairly quickly is not going to be eas. . ., , ., fairly quickly is not going to be eas. . ., easy. thank you for sharing your thou~hts easy. thank you for sharing your thoughts with easy. thank you for sharing your thoughts with others. rising concern about the rapid spread of the 0micron variant in london has prompted mayor sadiq khan to declare a major incident in the capital. he said, the 0micron variant has quickly become dominant, with cases increasing rapidly and the number of patients in our hospitals on the rise again. in the past seven days, the number of covid patients in london hospitals has gone
on last saturday. in increase, probably well over 5096 up on last saturday. on last saturday. in terms of where we are with on last saturday. in terms of where we are with the on last saturday. in terms of where we are with the rise on last saturday. in terms of where we are with the rise in on last saturday. in terms of where we are with the rise in cases - on last saturday. in terms of where we are with the rise in cases and i we are with the rise in cases and the spread of 0micron, what are your concerns in the coming weeks as to how far that spread will go? i concerns in the coming weeks as to how far that spread will go?- how far that spread will go? i think it s still very how far that spread will go? i think it s still very difficult how far that spread will go? i think it s still very difficult at how far that spread will go? i think it s still very difficult at the - it s still very difficult at the moment to really know what is going to happen. currently, most
let s hear a little more of what mayor sadiq khan had to say. we are incredibly concerned by the huge surge in the 0micron variant. over the last 24 hours we have had the largest number of new cases since this pandemic began, more than 26,000, hospital admissions are going up, but also staff absences are going up by massive levels. so i ve taken the decision, in consultation with our partners, to declare a major incident today. it s a statement of how serious things are, but also it means that rather than different public authorities working separately, we will be working together through both the london resilience forum, but also throughout the strategic coordination group. it s really important londoners understand how serious things are. let s talk to our political correspondent, damian grammaticas. so what does this mean and what will