a further 633 omicron cases have been recorded in the past 2a hours. that is the uk s biggestjump in the new variant infection so far. but there s still uncertainty about how many people may need hospital care, and how much pressure will be on the nhs. here s our health correspondent, katharine da costa. at vaccine centres around the uk, including this one in grimsby, the race is on to get even more jabs into arms and boost our defences against what may become the biggest wave of covid infections we ve seen so far. it s more worrying, i think, because we don t know exactly what s going to happen, so it s betterjust to be safe. ijust want to protect people as well that i m going to be in contact with. the new variant omicron is spreading fast, doubling every 2.5 days. new modelling has looked at what that might mean for hospital admissions and deaths in england under plan b with greater use
us this evening. i know you are speaking in a personal capacity, but based on your experience, the first question obviously is how is it at the moment in terms of the pressures that are on acu? the moment in terms of the pressures that are on acu? that are on acu? well, we are having a very hard that are on acu? well, we are having a very hard winter that are on acu? well, we are having a very hard winter and that are on acu? well, we are having a very hard winter and we that are on acu? well, we are having a very hard winter and we kind - that are on acu? well, we are having a very hard winter and we kind of - a very hard winter and we kind of knew we would have a very hard winter as far back as july. we have been dealing with a substantial number of covid cases since then and it hasn t hugely gone up or down, it has been a steady flow, little peaks and troughs, but nothing like the big wave injanuary, but the problem is that it s notjust covid. we are dealing with a lot of o
this is bbc news. the headlines at 8pm. unless the government puts further restrictions in place, the uk faces a substantial wave of omicron infections next month that might overwhelm the nhs that s the stark warning from scientists. another 633 omicron cases are recorded in the last 2a hours the uk s biggest dailyjump in omicron infections so far. new rules on face masks, self isolation and vaccine passports will be voted on by mps in the commons on tuesday according to government sources. at least 70 people have been killed as a series of devastating tornadoes strike the central united states, focusing on kentucky. this has been the most devastating tornado event in our state s history
about the wider strain on the nhs and how we juggle the range of problems, one of which is covid. find problems, one of which is covid. and one thing knocks to another, presumably, one of the consequences you do not know yet is whether the restrictions imposed on care homes will delay discharge, for example, for elderly patients who perhaps need to go into a residential care facility and at the moment are still in hospital. there are so many uncommon troubles with this, are in scare, even before you get into whether or not omicron is more dangerous for patients than delta has been? . , , has been? that is exactly right. the roblem has been? that is exactly right. the problem that has been? that is exactly right. the problem that the has been? that is exactly right. the problem that the nhs has been? that is exactly right. the problem that the nhs has has been? that is exactly right. the problem that the nhs has its - problem that the nhs has its uncertainty. we have to be prep
will pass, that will happen. to be fair to the government, - will pass, that will happen. to be fair to the government, this - will pass, that will happen. to be fair to the government, this is i will pass, that will happen. to be fair to the government, this is no surprise that they were going to do this, is it? they havejust decided this, is it? they havejust decided this is the obvious legislative opportunity to get it all out of the way in one go. opportunity to get it all out of the way in one go opportunity to get it all out of the way in one go. yes, exactly, so they have been way in one go. yes, exactly, so they have been saying way in one go. yes, exactly, so they have been saying for way in one go. yes, exactly, so they have been saying for some - way in one go. yes, exactly, so they have been saying for some time - way in one go. yes, exactly, so they| have been saying for some time that they were keen on the idea of nhs staff having to get a vaccine, plenty in govern