Britain is being hit by “two epidemics on top of each other” and big rise in hospitalisations is “a nailed-on prospect”, Chris Whitty has warned as the UK recorded its largest number of daily cases since the start of the pandemic.
Amid surging Omicron cases, the chief medical officer advised the public to ensure they could spend Christmas with friends and family by “de-prioritising” other social contact – suggesting this may include work parties.
It came as 78,610 new Covid infections were reported on Wednesday – the highest since 8 January this year. Whitty admitted that “records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks as the rates continue to go up”.
