(Bloomberg) — U.K. Covid-19 cases surged to a new record for a second day fueled by the fast-spreading omicron variant, piling pressure on Boris Johnson as he considers whether to tighten pandemic regulations after Christmas.
A total of 119,789 new cases were logged on Thursday, according to data published on the government’s coronavirus dashboard. That’s more than double the rate seen at the start of the month, and an increase of more than 10,000 on Wednesday’s caseload — which had also been a daily record.
Johnson has already introduced new light-touch restrictions to try to limit the spread of omicron. The prime minister has said he won’t do more before Christmas, but has warned further measures are possible after the holiday. Doing so would likely anger rebels in his ruling Conservative Party.
While the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already detailed new curbs that will come in after Christmas, Johnson doesn’t plan any announcements until after Dec. 25.
But the steep rise infections will add weight to the argument of his scientific advisers, who say the sooner he clamps down on household mixing and indoor hospitality, the more he can ease pressure on the National Health Service.
In more positive news, the U.K. Health Security Agency reported Thursday that patients with omicron are 50% to 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital, compared to those with the previously dominant delta strain.
Still, the agency warned the highly infectious nature of the variant could still lead to significant numbers of severe illness that squeeze the health service. It also said data showed that the effectiveness of booster vaccines wanes more rapidly against omicron than delta.
(Updates with context from fourth paragraph)
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