Almost half of new daily Omicron cases are only double jabbed – as expert urges get boosted

ALMOST half of new daily Omicron cases are in people who are only double jabbed.

An expert revealed the figures this morning, as she urged Brits to get their boosters to beat back the variant.


Dr Claire Steves, a reader at King's College London working with the ZOE Covid Study App, said: "Omicron seems to be more successful at infecting those who have had previous vaccines but thankfully not necessarily leading to hospitalisation.

"So if you've only had two doses of vaccine so far and are eligible for a third dose, please do book it now."

A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.

It comes amid hopes the Omicron outbreak is staring to slow, with an eight per cent fall on ZOE's cases this week.

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Dr Steves said: "It’s good news that the number of daily new cases has slowed for now. ZOE Covid Study data shows that this slow down is being driven by cases falling in London and in younger age groups.

"However, it’s worrying to see cases increasing in the over 75 age group. This is the group we need to protect as they are the most likely to be hospitalised as a result of a Covid infection.

"It’s too early to know if cases have truly peaked in London, as schools are yet to reopen after the holidays.

"We've seen school terms driving infection waves throughout the pandemic. The health and care systems are already under huge pressure, so we all need to take personal responsibility for limiting the spread of Covid."

The expert urged caution over the next few weeks, warning the NHS is "already under immense pressure" with the rest of the month set to be a "trial".

A number of trusts have declared "critical incidents" amid staff shortages and beds filling up.

Dr Steves said while case numbers are starting to slow in positive signs, the return of kids to schools could see it rise again.

But if everyone eligible has their boosters, wears masks, takes tests and notes any new symptoms it will be a huge help to stem the spread, she added.

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The expert said anyone who has a cold should avoid going out to be safe, saying: "If you're feeling at all under the weather please get a test and make sure you are clear of Covid."

New data from London showed a drop in cases, after the Omicron outbreak exploded in the capital before Christmas.

Dr Steves said: "We can see that cases have really been coming down in the past week despite New Year celebrations, and now hospitalisation rates look like they might be stabilising, for now at least.

"That probably means that in people's new year celebrations, that they were sensible.

"London seems to be reflecting the South Africa data, going up steeply and dropping sharply."

It comes after medics from South Africa, where Omicron first took hold, said the country is now in a "good place".

The wave there has fallen around six weeks after the first cases were reported, before half the nation was infected.

Professor Shabir Madhi, a vaccine expert said Omicron variant was "very much subsiding", adding: "'I think we are in a good place in South Africa and I think we've reached the turning point in this pandemic."


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