Nearly four in ten Covid patients in hospitals in England are not primarily being treated for the virus, according to official data that highlights the mildness of Omicron

NHS figures released today show there were around 13,000 beds occupied by coronavirus sufferers on January 4, of which nearly 4,850 were not mainly sick with the disease. It means close to 40 per cent of patients included in the Government’s daily Covid statistics may have been admitted for something else, such as a broken leg.  

The share of so-called ‘incidental’ cases was even bigger in Omicron hotspot London, where 45 per cent of ‘Covid patients’ were not primarily in hospital for the virus. 

Experts say there is reason to believe that incidentals will continue to rise as the variant pushes England’s infection rates to record highs, with one in 15 people estimated to have had Covid on New Year’s Eve.  

In South Africa — ground zero of the Omicron outbreak — up to 60 per cent of Covid patients were not admitted primarily for the virus at the height of the crisis there. 

There are growing calls among experts and politicians for the Government to differentiate between people who’re admitted ‘with’ and ‘from’ Covid to assess the real pressure of the virus on the NHS.

The rise in incidental admissions and lack of any real uptick in ICU cases has given Boris Johnson the confidence to ‘ride out’ the Omicron wave without any further restrictions.

A host of studies suggest Omicron causes less severe illness than its predecessors because it replicates faster in the upper airways rather than in the lungs where it can do more damage. MailOnline analysis revealed the Covid case fatality rate — the proportion of confirmed infections resulting in death — is now 21 times lower than during the devastating second wave.

Now that there is a growing acceptance that Omicron is unlikely to lead to a wave of severe illness like previous peaks, NHS leaders say isolation and staff absences are the main crises they face.

A record 120,000 NHS staff were off work this week – half of them self-isolating or testing positive for Covid – and hospitals are battling rising Covid admissions as well as trying to clear record waiting lists. Two dozen trusts in England have declared ‘critical incidents’ indicating that may be unable to deliver vital care in the coming weeks and the Army is now being brought in to plug the gaps. 

NHS figures released today show there were 13,045 beds occupied by coronavirus sufferers on January 4, of which 4,845 were not mainly sick with the disease. It means only six in 10 inpatients are primarily ill with Covid now compared to more than 80 per cent with Delta

Experts say there is reason to believe that incidentals will continue to rise as the variant pushes England's infection rates to record highs, with one in 15 people estimated to have had Covid on New Year's Eve

Experts say there is reason to believe that incidentals will continue to rise as the variant pushes England's infection rates to record highs, with one in 15 people estimated to have had Covid on New Year's Eve

Experts say there is reason to believe that incidentals will continue to rise as the variant pushes England’s infection rates to record highs, with one in 15 people estimated to have had Covid on New Year’s Eve

The share of so-called 'incidental' cases was even bigger in Omicron hotspot London , where 45 per cent of 'Covid patients' were not primarily in hospital for the virus

The share of so-called 'incidental' cases was even bigger in Omicron hotspot London , where 45 per cent of 'Covid patients' were not primarily in hospital for the virus

The share of so-called ‘incidental’ cases was even bigger in Omicron hotspot London , where 45 per cent of ‘Covid patients’ were not primarily in hospital for the virus

Official figures show that the number of Covid and non-Covid absences in the NHS grew through December

Official figures show that the number of Covid and non-Covid absences in the NHS grew through December

Official figures show that the number of Covid and non-Covid absences in the NHS grew through December

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, an eminent statistician at Cambridge University, told MailOnline that the rise in incidental cases ‘reflected the huge number of infections’ at the moment.

He added: ‘The rise in the share of incidental Covid patients could be largely due to the increased rate of people catching Covid while in hospital.

‘But we have good evidence from other sources that, compared to Delta, Omicron tends to produce milder disease — although it can still affect some people badly.’ 

MailOnline’s analysis shows the region with the highest incidental hospital patient was the Midlands, where 45 per cent of Covid patients were not being treated primarily for the virus on January 4.

It was followed by London (38 per cent), the East of England (38 per cent) and the North West (63 per cent). 

The largest week-on-week growth in all Covid patients was in the North East and Yorkshire, which saw them rise 93 per cent from 1,014 to 1,961.

Of those, 1,265 (64 per cent) were being treated primarily for Covid — the third highest proportion in the country.

NHS England boss warns fortnight of admissions already ‘baked in’  

A fortnight of further hospital admissions for Covid-19 are ‘already baked in’ as some NHS staff face ‘the steepest climb of the pandemic yet’, the head of the health service has said.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, thanked staff during a visit to King’s College Hospital in London on Friday.

More than 400 people are currently in the hospital with Covid-19.

She said: ‘We’re a week into 2022 but I do know that for some colleagues it already feels like it’s been a long year.

‘Case rates of the new variant have been highest so far here in London, but there is no community, no part of the country, that has been untouched by Omicron and this has obviously had, and will continue to have, an impact on NHS staff and on the services that we’re able to provide.

‘Realistically, another fortnight of admissions from Omicron are baked in. The only unknown is what level we will see and, of course, we will hope that the more optimistic forecasts are going to be the right ones.’

She said that whatever the next few weeks bring, there is ‘no doubt’ that it would have been so much tougher if it had not been for NHS staff working to give vaccinations over the last year.

She added: ‘Staff are stepping up, but they’re not machines.

‘As ever in the NHS we’re working on this together, colleagues are finding though that the significant challenges that they’re facing now for some make this the steepest climb of the pandemic yet and the latest stats show that every day around 10,000 more colleagues are off sick than they were last week.

‘I know leaders across the NHS are doing everything they can to support their teams.’

She said the NHS was ‘still here’ for the public if they needed treatment and people should continue to come forward for care, adding that people should get their vaccines ‘to keep the country on the path out of this pandemic.’

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As of yesterday, official data shows there were 16,058 Covid hospital patients in English hospitals, up 40 per cent in a week. 

But that is still fewer than half of the peak last January when there were 33,000 inpatients and the rise of incidental cases has given ministers confidence that no extra restrictions are needed. 

Experts and Tory MPs have called on the Government to differentiate between primary and secondary Covid patients in the daily figures for transparency.

Cambridge epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali has previously told MailOnline that it would ‘not only helpful but in many ways essential’ in assessing the true pressure on the NHS. 

Britain’s daily Covid cases fell for the first time in a month yesterday, with  179,756 positive tests recorded across the UK, down five per cent on last week and a drop on the day before.

The fall has been accelerated by the fact two days’ worth of cases were reported in Wales last Thursday, making the drop appear steeper. But it adds to growing evidence the country’s Omicron wave is no longer spiralling.

Latest hospital data showed another 2,078 Covid patients were admitted to UK wards on January 2, which was up 38 per cent on a week ago. Another 231 deaths were also recorded, down 30 per cent on last week.

But the steep rise in infections over the last few weeks has put the NHS in crisis mode, with doctors and nurses are under ‘exceptional strain’ covering for colleagues at home, according to British Medical Association (BMA) council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul.

Boris Johnson, who sent soldiers to help NHS staff in London today, insists the health service can ‘ride out’ the Omicron wave, as infections and deaths both dropped yesterday.

Far fewer people are also being admitted to intensive care than in previous waves, while the length of time patients spend in hospital is also shortening. 

Meanwhile ministers have pushed back against claims hospitals are on the brink of collapse, with Environment Secretary George Eustice predicting the NHS’s acute problems will prove to be ‘quite short lived’.

They have also refused to follow in the footsteps of the US by cutting self-isolation periods to five days — a move some experts say will ease pressure on staffing issues. 

It comes as figures leaked to the Health Service Journal today reveal that staff absences at NHS England went from 80,000 on January 2 to just under 120,000 on Wednesday January 5 — 20 per cent higher than the peak last January.

Around 62,000 of the total 120,000 absences reported 48 hours ago were people who had tested positive for Covid or self-isolating. 

The highest rates of absence were in the Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, and the North West — where more than 10 per cent of all staff are off. These trusts also already had the absence rates amongst staff before the pandemic. 

Separate figures released by the NHS today show a total of 39,142 NHS staff at hospital trusts in England were absent for Covid reasons on January 2.

The figure, which includes confirmed cases and those in isolation, is up 59 per cent on the previous week, when the figure was 24,632, and more than three times the number at the start of December.  

It has been driven up by absences in the north-west of England, which saw an 85 per cent week-on-week rise on January 2. 

Military personnel assisting at the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in 2020

Military personnel assisting at the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in 2020

Military personnel assisting at the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in 2020

The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, where work continues to construct a Nightingale surge hub, one of eight to be set up in hospitals across the country in preparation for a potential wave of Omicron admissions

The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, where work continues to construct a Nightingale surge hub, one of eight to be set up in hospitals across the country in preparation for a potential wave of Omicron admissions

The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, where work continues to construct a Nightingale surge hub, one of eight to be set up in hospitals across the country in preparation for a potential wave of Omicron admissions

There are early signs pressure is easing on the NHS with the number of staff absences due to Covid falling over the week to January 2

There are early signs pressure is easing on the NHS with the number of staff absences due to Covid falling over the week to January 2

Latest figures show that hospitals in England have actually had fewer beds occupied this winter than they did pre-Covid. An average of 89,097 general and acute beds were open each day in the week to December 26, of which 77,901 were occupied. But the NHS was looking after more hospital patients in the week to December 26 in 2019, 2018 and 2017

Latest figures show that hospitals in England have actually had fewer beds occupied this winter than they did pre-Covid. An average of 89,097 general and acute beds were open each day in the week to December 26, of which 77,901 were occupied. But the NHS was looking after more hospital patients in the week to December 26 in 2019, 2018 and 2017

Latest figures show that hospitals in England have actually had fewer beds occupied this winter than they did pre-Covid. An average of 89,097 general and acute beds were open each day in the week to December 26, of which 77,901 were occupied. But the NHS was looking after more hospital patients in the week to December 26 in 2019, 2018 and 2017

The proportion of beds occupied by patients who are primarily in hospital 'for' Covid, versus those who were admitted for something else and tested positive later, referred to as 'with' Covid. The data looks at (55 per cent). That suggests 45 per cent were not seriously ill with Covid, yet were counted in the official statistics. In the South East of England 66 per cent were primarily non-Covid, in the East of England it was 51 per cent and in London it was 48 per cent. Critics argue, however, that the figures are unreliable because they don't include discharges, which could skew the data. But they add to the growing trend

The proportion of beds occupied by patients who are primarily in hospital 'for' Covid, versus those who were admitted for something else and tested positive later, referred to as 'with' Covid. The data looks at (55 per cent). That suggests 45 per cent were not seriously ill with Covid, yet were counted in the official statistics. In the South East of England 66 per cent were primarily non-Covid, in the East of England it was 51 per cent and in London it was 48 per cent. Critics argue, however, that the figures are unreliable because they don't include discharges, which could skew the data. But they add to the growing trend

The proportion of beds occupied by patients who are primarily in hospital ‘for’ Covid, versus those who were admitted for something else and tested positive later, referred to as ‘with’ Covid. The data covers the week between December 21 and December 28, when were around 2,100 additional beds occupied by the virus in England — of which 1,150 were primary illness (55 per cent). That suggests 45 per cent were not seriously ill with Covid, yet were counted in the official statistics. In the South East of England 66 per cent were primarily non-Covid, in the East of England it was 51 per cent and in London it was 48 per cent. Critics argue, however, that the figures are unreliable because they don’t include discharges, which could skew the data. But they add to the growing trend 

While Covid hospitalisations are rising quickly in England, they are still half of the level of last January and far fewer patients are needing ventilation

While Covid hospitalisations are rising quickly in England, they are still half of the level of last January and far fewer patients are needing ventilation

While Covid hospitalisations are rising quickly in England, they are still half of the level of last January and far fewer patients are needing ventilation

During the third wave, those aged 70 to 79 required a hospital bed for eight days and those aged 50 to 69 for seven days

During the third wave, those aged 70 to 79 required a hospital bed for eight days and those aged 50 to 69 for seven days

Th average length of a hospital stay for Covid patients over the age of 80 in the UK has more than halved. Pictured: Ambulances outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel

Th average length of a hospital stay for Covid patients over the age of 80 in the UK has more than halved. Pictured: Ambulances outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel

During the third wave, those aged 70 to 79 required a hospital bed for eight days and those aged 50 to 69 for seven days (left). Right: Ambulances outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel

Meanwhile, people who fail to get a booster jab could face new travel restrictions from next month under plans to increase uptake.

Boris Johnson yesterday ruled out following Italy, Austria and other European countries in making vaccinations compulsory.

But officials are drawing up plans to strip double-jabbed people of their ‘fully vaccinated’ status without the booster shot, leaving them facing tough quarantine and testing rules for foreign travel.

Most travel restrictions for the fully vaccinated ended this week, including dropping the need for quarantine and pre-departure tests.

Ministers are concerned by a fall in demand for boosters which threatens to leave hundreds of thousands of slots unfilled.

Mr Johnson yesterday urged people to ignore the ‘complete mumbo jumbo’ peddled by anti-vaxxers on social media.

He said the ‘overwhelming majority’ of people now in intensive care with Covid had not had their booster jab, with many not vaccinated at all. During a visit to a vaccination centre in Northampton, he said: ‘When you’re in ICU and you haven’t been vaccinated, sadly it’s too late to get vaccinated. So get boosted now.’

Italy announced plans for mandatory vaccinations yesterday for all over-50s. But the PM said the UK would never resort to ‘coercion’.

However, the Health Service Journal last night said the NHS is preparing to fire thousands of staff still unvaccinated after the February deadline.  

Sources last night said the change in the ‘fully vaccinated’ definition could happen as soon as the end of next month.

An estimated 4.5 million over-18s have not had a first dose, six million-plus are not double-jabbed, and almost nine million eligible people have not had a booster yet.

It comes as official figures show a record 81.4 per cent of over-65s have had a flu jab this season.

Top medic issues warning as number of NHS staff off sick hits 120,000 

NHS trusts have ‘never known’ such high staff absences, health chiefs have today warned, with 120,000 staff off work this week — half of them self-isolating or testing positive for Covid — and the Army now being brought in to plug the gaps.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, council chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), says doctors and nurses are under ‘exceptional strain’ covering for colleagues at home.

But Boris Johnson, who sent soldiers to help NHS staff in London today, insists the health service can ‘ride out’ the Omicron wave, as infections and deaths both dropped yesterday.

Far fewer people are also being admitted to intensive care than in previous waves, while the length of time patients spend in hospital is also shortening. 

Meanwhile ministers have pushed back against claims hospitals are on the brink of collapse, with Environment Secretary George Eustice predicting the NHS’s acute problems will prove to be ‘quite short lived’.

They have also refused to follow in the footsteps of the US by cutting self-isolation periods to five days – a move some experts say will ease pressure on staffing issues. 

It comes as figures leaked to the Health Service Journal today reveal that staff absences at NHS England went from 80,000 on January 2 to just under 120,000 on Wednesday January 5 — 20 per cent higher than the peak last January.

Around 62,000 of the total 120,000 absences reported 48 hours ago were people who had tested positive for Covid or self-isolating. 

The highest rates of absence were in the Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, and the North West — where more than 10 per cent of all staff are off.

These trusts also already had the absence rates amongst staff before the pandemic. 

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Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk