Leading scientists have warned that ongoing shortages of COVID tests across the UK are a “great concern” ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations. In recent days there have been widespread shortages of lateral flow and PCR tests for delivery on the government’s portal, with no PCRs available across the UK this morning. Health Secretary Sajid
UK
A number of new Nightingale “surge hubs” are to be set up around England as the NHS goes on a “war footing” in preparation for a wave of Omicron hospital admissions. Eight locations with capacity for 100 patients will be set up, with work beginning this week, NHS England has said. More sites have also
The UK has reported a record 183,037 new COVID cases in the latest daily figures. The number includes five days of infection data from Northern Ireland – 22,972 cases – due to a lag in reporting over Christmas. Of the 183,037 total figure, 138,287 cases were in England (yesterday it was 117,093), 15,849 were in