to recent research, there is much less of a shield a few months after a second dose, 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. 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 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 england, there could be more than 6000 hospital admissions a day, compared with just under 4000 at the pea
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
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 england, there could be more than 6000 hospital admissions a day, compared with just under 4000 at the peak last winter. in the best case, they say it would be around 2000 admissions a day in england, and all of that assumes that a previously announced restrictions haven t been changed. so there are serious challenges for the nhs across the uk. any rise in at covid numbers will increase pressure already felt uncrowded a&e departments, including this one in edinburgh. the scottish government has urged people to limit social contacts in the run up to christmas. already, some hospitality venues report that customers are voting with their feet and cancelling bookings. one restaurant owner told us he had seen 650 cancellations at one site, and government help was needed. it is going to be working out how we survive, how we get through, where are the losses,
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 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. so there are serious challenges for the nhs across the uk. any rise in covid numbers will increase pressure already felt in crowded a&e departments, including this one in edinburgh. the scottish government has urged people to limit social contacts in the run up to christmas. there have been renewed appeals, meanwhile, for volunteers to join the vaccination effort in eng