Covid: UK reports 98,515 new cases and 143 deaths

Britain reported 98,515 new cases of Covid on Monday as infections remained high and Omicron variant continues to cause a large wave of transmission.

The latest official government data – which focused on England following a lag in the reporting over the holiday – also revealed 113,628 Covid cases for Christmas Day and 103,893 cases Boxing Day.

The figures for Christmas Day mark England’s highest-ever daily total of Covid cases, and follow an all-UK record on Christmas Eve.

A further 143 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, the government said — the sum of the deaths that would have been reported in England between December 25 and 27.

No further restrictions are now expected to control the Omicron variant in England, Sajid Javid said on Monday, after ministers were briefed on the impact Christmas had on Covid infections and hospital pressures.

The delay in making a decision comes number of Covid patients in London hospitals has increased by almost 50 per cent within a week – with admissions on the rise across all but one region of England, figures released on Monday show.

Scotland saw the highest number of Covid cases since the start of the pandemic. Some 8,252 cases were recorded on Christmas Day, with another 11,030 on Boxing Day and 10,562 on December 27.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said while the rate of hospital admissions associated with Omicron is much lower than previous strains, the rising cases will “still put inevitable further strain on the NHS”.

The SNP leader urged Scots to keep “essential” indoor gatherings to a maximum of three households over the festive period and encouraged those who have not received their Covid booster to get jagged by the bells.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency announced 45,307 additional confirmed cases of the Omicron variant. The number of deaths in England of people with Omicron variant rose to 39, while hospital admissions with Omicron in England rose to 407.