RTMon, 03 Jan 2022 15:51 UTC
© Reuters
Only one patient who was confirmed to have the Omicron strain of Covid-19
has ended up in intensive care since the variant began to spread in Scotland, according to data released by the government.
While one in 40 people in the British nation had Covid last week, according to government estimates, with around 80% of cases thought to be Omicron,
fewer than 100 people were in hospital with the new strain.In a potentially encouraging sign that the new, more infectious variant is not as dangerous as previous strains, out of all of the people who were treated in Scottish hospitals with Omicron, only one was put in intensive care.
Since the pandemic began, Scotland has recorded nearly 1 million cases of Covid-19, with 1,031 people currently receiving hospital treatment for the virus, as of yesterday. Scottish government advisor Linda Bauld told reporters:
"It looks like the odds of needing ventilation and intensive care are lower than they were and that's no doubt largely due to vaccines and boosters. However it's still likely" that some people will need hospital care."
The data published by the Scottish government found that unvaccinated individuals are 12.5 times more likely to require hospital treatment than those who have received the booster jab. This backs up research from the UK Health Security Agency that claimed a booster vaccine is 88% effective at preventing people with Covid from ending up in hospital. Scottish government said in a statement in response to the new data:
"It is encouraging, however, it is still important to take care that we do not allow the much higher transmissibility of Omicron to outweigh the benefits of its potential lower severity."
Comment: One foot in, one foot out...
responses are cautionary:
Ministers are expected to cut the self-isolation period from 10 days to seven within days - to bring Scotland in line with the other UK nations - amid continuing concern over the availability of tests. At the end of last week people trying to book PCR tests through a UK government online portal were told there were no slots or they were offered tests at locations up to 60 miles from their homes.
Analysis is ongoing to determine which hospital patients are being treated for a Covid-related illness and which patients have tested positive but do not have symptoms.
The Omicron figures published by the Scottish Government on Friday show a total of 91 people confirmed to have contracted the variant have required hospital treatment and one has needed intensive care.
"In London, what seems to be happening is some of the intensive care consultants are being asked to go on to the general medical wards because there are so many patients there. So, intensive care wards are not overstretched but other wards are overstretched. That just means you have a high volume of patients but they might not be as unwell.
"It's good news for individuals who pick it up but the concerns are the pressures on the sector now. The main worry at the moment is staff absences.
"People are being bombarded with reminders from the Scottish government to book a test if they have symptoms - only to find there aren't any tests to book."
The Scottish Conservatives welcomed the new figures:
"The government data suggests that despite Omicron's high level of transmissibility, we are not yet seeing this reflected in hospitalisation numbers. The SNP Government need to seriously consider this information ahead of any potential changes to the current restrictions that are damaging businesses and livelihoods. As a priority the government should update the self-isolation rules which continue to put pressure on our essential services."
England, Wales and Northern Ireland have already cut the Covid isolation period to seven days and in the United States it is now five days, dependent on a negative test.
Meanwhile teachers leaders are warning that a rapid rise in cases could cause significant disruption to schools unless immediate action is taken by the Scottish Government. The NASUWT union has insisted a range of measures are needed to help combat surging infection levels resulting from the Omicron variant.
Ministers are being urged to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission in the classroom by funding air-cleaning units for every school and college that needs such devices.
Mmm, I wonder, what on Earth could be the cause?