Omicron: Dr Amir talks through the symptoms of the new strain
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Figures released by the UK Health Security Agency showed that the new Omicron variant is also ripping its way through that the East, South East and North West. And five people are in hospital suspected of being infected with the Omicron in addition to the 10 confirmed cases already reported by the UKHSA, the data revealed. The figures were based on PCR tests at four laboratories.
The tests are effective at spotting the difference between Omicron and Delta, the other variant that has been circulating widely in Britain.
Across England, 24 percent of cases with specimen dates of December 11 and December 12 were most likely to be due to Omicron, the data showed.
In the East of England, 26.9 percent of cases were thought to be due to Omicron.
Next, 25.4 percent of cases in South East were due to Omicron, with 20.8 percent in the North West.
Omicron is also likely to become dominant in those regions in the next three to four days, if cases follow the growth curve in London.
The lowest rates were seen in the North East of England, at just 6.8 percent.
Now, it is thought that Omicron is also likely to become dominant in those areas within the next three to four days – if cases follow the growth curve in London as suspected.
But not every laboratory across the country contributed to the data and worryingly, the Omicron rate in some regions might even be higher than the data suggests.
PCR tests can target three genes on the virus that causes COVID-19.
While the Delta variant shows up positive at all three sites, a mutation in Omicron means that the test will come back as a blank for one of the genes, which is known as the S-gene dropout.
The figures were based on 9,156 samples where the existence or non-existence of the S-gene could be found.
The rate of growth proved to be the quickest in London.
The proportion of COVID cases likely to be due to Omicron rose from 44.5 percent to 51.8 percent in only 24 hours.
Now, the distribution of home PCR tests is going to be more than doubled from tomorrow, Dr Jenny Harries from the UK Health Security Agency told MPs on the transport select committee.
She said that Royal Mail will “allow us to more than double our delivery capacity from Friday from 400,000 home delivered to 900,000”.
And Dr Harries said that there are more discussions going on too to increase capacity.
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She noted test sites in London are seeing a very sudden rise and are becoming quite full, pointing out that mobile testing units have been brought in.
While Dr Harries claimed that there are enough tests, there has been a sudden increase in pressure.
Between 6am and 8am this morning, 200,000 lateral flow packs were ordered, according to Dr Harries.
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