a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has come up with a range of scenarios depending on what happens with the virus and the take up of boosters. they say in the worst case scenario in england, there could be more than 6,000 hospital admissions a day compared with just under 4,000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2,000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that previously announced restrictions haven t been changed. the picture seems bleaker, but vaccine coverage is much more widespread than in the january wave, deaths, for now, are a lot lower, and there are more therapies for covid patients. hugh pym, bbc news. around the world, governments have been reacting to the increase in omicron cases. as we ve mentioned, south africa has recorded its highest number of covid cases in 2a hours since the start of the pandemic. and in europe, a vaccination drive for children under 12
even if most of the extra cases are mild, that could result in more staff absences from key sectors of the economy and public services. and while 0micron may cause less serious illness than delta, a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has come up with a range of scenarios, depending on what happens with the virus and the take up of boosters. they say in the worst case scenario in england, there could be more than 6,000 hospital admissions a day compared with just under 4,000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2,000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that previously announced restrictions haven t been changed. the picture seems bleaker, but vaccine coverage is much more widespread than in the january wave, deaths, for now, are a lot lower, and there are more therapies for covid patients. hugh pym, bbc news. so that s the situation
in more staff absences from key sectors of the economy and public services. and while omicron may cause less serious illness than delta, a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has come up with a range of scenarios depending on what happens with the virus and the take up of boosters. they say in the worst case scenario in england, there could be more than 6,000 hospital admissions a day compared with just under 4,000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2,000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that previously announced restrictions haven t been changed. the picture seems bleaker, but vaccine coverage is much more widespread than in the january wave, deaths, for now, are a lot lower, and there are more therapies for covid patients. hugh pym, bbc news. across the world, governments have been reacting to the phenomenal increase in omicron cases.
serious illness than delta, a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has come up with a range of scenarios, depending on what happens with the virus and the ta ke up of boosters. they say in the worst case scenario in england, there could be more than 6,000 hospital admissions a day compared with just under 4,000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2,000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that previously announced restrictions haven t been changed. the picture seems bleaker, but vaccine coverage is much more widespread than in the january wave, deaths, for now, are a lot lower, and there are more therapies for covid patients. hugh pym, bbc news. so dire warnings in the uk. but of course, it s not just here that omicron is spreading rapidly. south africa where the variant was first
and there s high level concern about how much case could rise. about how much case numbers could rise. probably the most significant threat we have had since the start of the pandemic, and i m sure for example that the numbers we are seeing on data over the next few days will be quite staggering compared to the rate of growth we have seen in cases for previous variants. the health secretary visited a vaccine centre, as booster bookings in england were opened up to all adults. it is clear, whilst we know that two jabs are not enough, three jabs are fantastic in helping us all get protected against this new variant, which is why the booster programme is absolutely so critical and is a centralfocus. even if most of the extra cases are mild, that could result in more staff absences, from key sectors of the economy and public services. and while omicron may cause less serious illness than delta, a surge in cases would mean at least some extra hospital admissions. one group of modellers has