ressure. , .., , , are mean hospitals are feeling the ressure. , , , ., pressure. the rise in cases of omicron pressure. the rise in cases of omicron is pressure. the rise in cases of omicron is absolutely - pressure. the rise in cases of- omicron is absolutely enormous. it is rising very, very rapidly indeed. i think what will probably happen is it will keep rising, but it will peak fairly soon, and our that this lasts for weeks rather than months. that this lasts for weeks rather than months. most recent data shows how fast omicron than months. most recent data shows how fast omicron has than months. most recent data shows how fast omicron has spread - than months. most recent data shows how fast omicron has spread in - than months. most recent data shows how fast omicron has spread in the i how fast omicron has spread in the north west of england. just before christmas, an estimated 3.2% of the population in the region had coronavirus, around one in 30 people. by new year s
today at six, startling new figures on covid infections in the uk. one in every 15 people were infected in the run up to new year s eve. no more pcr tests for those with a positive lateral flow result in england and wales, if there are no symptoms. which could ease pressure on labs. but fears remain for hospitals. potentially of greatest concern, case rates are now rising rapidly among the older and more vulnerable, including doubling every week among those over 60, with the obvious risk that this will continue to increase the pressure is on our nhs. the isolation period in scotland is coming down from ten to seven days, in line with the rest of the uk. also on the programme. good news for winter travellers. rules requiring a test before arrival in england are being scrapped.
to whether opportunity to inform the house as to whether and how the government will be to whether and how the government will be changing its approach when new variants arrived. we will be changing its approach when new variants arrived. new variants arrived. we have got to have a plan new variants arrived. we have got to have a plan to new variants arrived. we have got to have a plan to live new variants arrived. we have got to have a plan to live with new variants arrived. we have got to have a plan to live with this - new variants arrived. we have got to have a plan to live with this virus - have a plan to live with this virus like normalfor ever. when is he going to set that plan out? for like normal for ever. when is he going to set that plan out? for now, thou:h, going to set that plan out? for now, though. mr going to set that plan out? for now, though, mrjohnson going to set that plan out? for now, though, mrjohnson is going to set that plan out? for now, tho
a week tests they need now to do two tests a week. emergency workers are reportedly stuck in isolation because reportedly stuck in isolation because they can t get their hands on a test because they can t get their hands on a test. the government has been asleep on a test. the government has been asleep at on a test. the government has been asleep at the wheel, mr speaker, and the result asleep at the wheel, mr speaker, and the result is asleep at the wheel, mr speaker, and the result is total shambles. the result is total shambles. before christmas, the the result is total shambles. before christmas, the prime the result is total shambles. before christmas, the prime minister - the result is total shambles. before christmas, the prime minister was l christmas, the prime minister was under huge pressure after his own mps defied him and he had to rely on labour votes to get his covid plans through. borisjohnson is the kind of politician who instinctively prefers to let
that, and i was hoping that was going to happen. i actually feel 0k about it because we ve had coronavirus a few months ago. up to a quarter of the staff were off at the glasgow gaelic school because of covid. it is going to cause some challenges. i we are going to have to think about reorganising classes and having - teachers cover for their absent colleagues. - at a virtual session of the scottish parliament, the first minister said isolation rules would be relaxed from ten days to seven for those with covid, dependent on negative tests, and household contacts can take lateral flow tests from midnight tonight instead of isolating. these changes are significant and they are not completely without risk. however, at this stage of the pandemic, they do strike an appropriate balance. this comes after weeks of pressure from opposition parties. the first minister previously said it would spread infection even further.