| |  | | | Nicola Adam | | Associate Editor |
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Good evening, There were dire warnings today from scientists over implications of the Omicron virus, namely that there is a possibility the NHS could be overwhelmed next month - the last thing we want to hear. Professor Graham Medley, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he is worried “we could see numbers of people being admitted to hospital getting very large” if infections continue to rise and spill into older age groups.
It came as Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, told MPs the Omicron coronavirus variant is “probably the most significant threat we’ve had since the start of the pandemic” and warned of a “staggering” number of cases in the next few days compared with what has gone before.
She said the “real potential risk” is whether “cases turn into severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths”, but added that it is “too early” to be clear on that.
Frankly, with Christmas on the horizon, all we can do is try and protect our families, get vaccinated, mask up and hope. Stay safe, Nicola | |
