katherine da costa, bbc news.et's look at the latest government data now — some of the figures are still being affected by delays over the holiday period and some data has not yet been published. it also includes five days' worth of data from northern ireland. there were a record 183,037 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. 57 deaths were recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test. 0n vaccinations more than 325,000 people had boosters, bringing the total to more than 33 million. i've been speaking about the latest figures to professor anthony gordon, chair in anaesthesia and critical care at imperial college and consultant in intensive care medicine at st mary's hospital in london. it's a huge number, and i think it is worrying seeing so many cases that we know even though it's a small percentage of those people that will become seriously ill, that will be a large number that's still going to be admitted to hospital over the coming week. it was interesting hearing the pr

our health correspondent katherine da costa has more.fe nikki are both gps in leeds. he tested positive on a lateral flow device which means as a lateral flow device which means as a health worker his wife cannot return to work until she has received a negative pcr test. the website is not _ received a negative pcr test. lie: website is not showing received a negative pcr test. tue: website is not showing availability but it does not seem to hold true throughout the day. people have found availability later in the day so there is this pattern of delay in being able to book locally on the government booking site. at being able to book locally on the government booking site. at some oint toda government booking site. at some point today there _ government booking site. at some point today there was _ government booking site. at some point today there was no _ point today there was no availability on the government website for home pcr kits or walk in england and northern ireland and only supply in scotland. there's been a surge in demand f

katherine da costa, bbc news.now by professor anthony gordon, chair in anaesthesia and critical care at imperial college and consultant in intensive care medicine at st mary's hospital in london. these figures, how concerned are you by this spike, this new daily record for the uk? by this spike, this new daily record forthe uk?— for the uk? good evening. it is a hue for the uk? good evening. it is a huge number. — for the uk? good evening. it is a huge number, and _ for the uk? good evening. it is a huge number, and i _ for the uk? good evening. it is a huge number, and i think- for the uk? good evening. it is a huge number, and i think it - for the uk? good evening. it is a huge number, and i think it is i huge number, and i think it is worrying seeing so many cases that we know even though it is a small percentage of those people that will become seriously ill, that will be a large number that is still going to be admitted to hospital over the coming week. it be admitted to hospital over the coming week-— coming

here's katherine da costa. another record day of covid cases in the uk.days of data from northern ireland added from the christmas break. spiralling cases are leading to an increase in hospital admissions in england. the weekly averages up by more than 50% compared to a week ago. the number of people with covidien hospital has risen above 10,000 for the first time in ten months. there are signs of optimism. quite difficult at the moment with the data. we have very high rates of infection in the community and therefore we may see some of those people naturally in the hospital as well. but those people naturally in the hospital as well.— hospital as well. but equally we're not — hospital as well. but equally we're not the _ hospital as well. but equally we're not the same - hospital as well. but equally we're not the same rate - hospital as well. but equally we're not the same rate of. we're not the same rate of admission to intensive care units, and so that could be a positive sign. fix, units, and so that could be a positive sign.— units, and so that could

in the uk tested positive for covid in the period before christmas. 0ur health correspondent katherine da costa 2021. nearly two years into this pandemic, many are exhausted. a spike in covid cases is driving a rise in staff sickness. in england, london is worst affected with about 4% of staff in acute trusts absent for covid—related reasons in the week before christmas, up nearly 60% on the week before. many feel it's impacting on patient care. the staff that are at work will be caring for more patients, trying to do more to cover for their missing colleagues, working extra hours, starting early, finishing late. the pressure will be immense. in the latest infection survey from the 0ns, infections increased across the uk to their highest level on record in the week to christmas eve. in england, one in 25 had the virus. in scotland, wales and northern ireland it was one in a0. infections doubled in a week in london. one in 15 tested positive. but there were big rises too in the north—west, yorkshire and the humber and west midlands. other regions weren't far behind. statisticians say infections

here's katherine da costa. another record day with five days from the northern ireland added. has been a spike in hospital admissions in england. it is up 40% compared to a week ago. the number of people with covid—i9 in hospital has risen above 10,000 for the first time in ten months. but there are some signs of optimism. it months. but there are some signs of optimism.— signs of optimism. it is difficult _ signs of optimism. it is difficult at _ signs of optimism. it is difficult at the - signs of optimism. it is difficult at the moment signs of optimism. it is i difficult at the moment to interpret the data. we have very high rates of infection in the community and therefore we may see some of those people naturally in the hospital as well. but equally we're not the same rate of admission to intensive care units, so they could be a positive sign. the prime minister, _ could be a positive sign. the prime minister, on - could be a positive sign. the prime minister, on a - could be a positive sign. the prime minister, on a visit to this vaccination centre in milton keynes, was

here's our health correspondent katherine da costa. north london are now open 2a hours a day as staff go all out to getjabs into arms. but the acceleration of boosters can't compete with a variant that is doubling every two days. in london omicron is already driving a huge wave of infections prompting this announcement from the mayor sadiq khan. we are incredibly concerned by the huge surge in the omicron variant. over the last 2a hours we have had the largest number of new cases since this pandemic began — more than 26,000. hospital admissions are going up, but also staff absences are going up by massive levels. so i've taken the decision, in consultation with our partners, to public services will now be stepped up and unable london to seek further support from central government to assess government to address the pressures facing the city. it comes as scientific advisers on the sage committee suggest without further stringent measures very soon we could see i,000—2,000 hospital admissions a day in england in a fortnight, up from aro

katherine da costa, bbc news. well, let's look at the latest government data now. the figures are still being affected by delays over the holiday period, and some data has not yet been published. it also includes five days' worth of data from northern ireland. there were a record 183,037 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period. 57 deaths were recorded — that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test. 0n vaccinations, more than 325,000 people had boosters, bringing the total to more than 33 million. 0ur health correspondent catherine burns explained why it is tricky to interpret the current data about hospitalisations with coronavirus. we're almost at a point now where we were at ten months ago. it's that long since the numbers were that high. so if we break the numbers down, 10,500 covid patients in hospital in england, and that's up 2,000 in just two days. but there are some factors that could have boosted this, reeta, because once someone�*s in hospital and they have recovered, it can be a lot harder to get them discharged over christmas

our health correspondent katherine da costa reports.today the uk became the first in the world to approve the pfizer covid vaccine. days later margaret keenan was the first person outside clinical trials to get it. since then, 150 millionjabs have been administered in the biggest vaccination effort in uk history. now more than 100 million extra doses of pfizer and moderna have been secured for the next couple of years. figs been secured for the next couple of ears. �* , . been secured for the next couple of ears. ~ , ., , been secured for the next couple of ears. ~ , . , ., years. as we are seeing right now, there is a new _ years. as we are seeing right now, there is a new variant, _ years. as we are seeing right now, there is a new variant, there's - there is a new variant, there's potentially new variants in the future. we know covid will be around for a while, we have to live with it and one of the ways to live with it is to ensure we have the vaccines we need and our future proof and that is the order we have given for 114 million v

our health correspondent katherine da costa has more. and his wife nikki are both gps in leeds. he tested positive for covid on a lateral flow device. as a health care worker, his wife tried to book a pcr test, but none were available this morning. for my wife, who could potentially go back into work if her pcr test was negative and she remained symptom—free, that's a huge impact on her surgery. there are only three of them. if she is off because she has to isolate, then that's a third of the workforce down, so the real issue not being able to book pcr tests, not getting them in a timely manner and also not being able to get lateral flow tests to help direct us what to do. at some points today, there was no availability on the government website for home pcr kits or walk—in sites in england and northern ireland, and only limited supply in scotland. there's been a surge in demand for lateral flow tests, too. that's led to pharmacists warning that supply�*s not keeping up. they've not had any here since christmas eve. it's not just our pha

katherine da costa, bbc news.ben wright explains, the different nations within the uk are taking very different approaches to tackling the new wave of cases. it's the pattern we've seen throughout the pandemic, that different parts of the uk have taken their own approach to how to handle coronavirus. and, you know, that's certainly the case now. england is apart from wales, scotland and northern ireland, who have set out their measures for the sort of restrictions they'll put in place after christmas day. whereas for boris johnson and the uk government, the plan is stilljust to wait and see. we know there'll be no new measures announced before christmas day. we don't expect any other announcements before christmas day about what might follow boxing day as well. so for people wanting certainty around their year plans around their new year plans for the coming weeks, if you're in england, we don't have it yet. borisjohnson has written in the sun, hasn't he, kind of a short message? or someone's written it for him. a

katherine da costa, bbc news. with me is our political correspondent ben wright.of people wanting more clarity, i think, with this new data showing that may be the effect is weaker, but we're still hearing about huge pressures on the health service and we are seeing other regions around the uk taking tougher measures potentially after christmas.— after christmas. yes, it is the attern after christmas. yes, it is the pattern we — after christmas. yes, it is the pattern we have _ after christmas. yes, it is the pattern we have seen - after christmas. yes, it is the . pattern we have seen throughout after christmas. yes, it is the - pattern we have seen throughout the pandemic come in different parts of the uk have taken their own approach to how to handle coronavirus. that is certainly the case now. england is certainly the case now. england is a part from wales, scotland and northern ireland, who have set out their measures for the restrictions they will put in place after christmas day, whereas for boris johnson and the uk government, the plan is still to wait and

our health correspondent, katherine da costa, reports. is a new variant, there's potentially new variants in the future. we know that covid is going to be around for a while, we have to live with it and one of the ways to learn to live with it is to ensure we have the vaccines we need and they are future proof and that is the order we have given for 114 million vaccines to make sure we've got what we need for the long term. the government has launched this new advertising campaign encouraging all adults to have a top—up jab. the prime minister is due to get his booster later. he has promised to throw everything at ramping up the programme with extra hospital hubs, pharmacists and gps in order to hit the target of offering all eligible over—18s in england a booster by the end of january, but people are urged to wait to be contacted. it's centrally driven. they will be contacted by the central nhs system, it doesn't come from your individual gps and i would love to be able to tell them when they will get it, but of course that very much dep