This interactive map shows the confirmed Omicron cases in regions across the UK as of the latest data, and there are thousands more cases. 

Yesterday, December 15, the UK recorded the highest daily total of lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.

The new variant, Omicron, was described as the “most significant threat we’ve had since the start of the pandemic” by chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency Dr Jenny Harries.

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How many cases of Omicron are there in my region of the UK? 

A report by the UK Health Security Agency published yesterday, December 15, shows that 375 new cases of Omicron were confirmed in the South West bringing the latest regional total to 627 confirmed cases. 

The number of 'probable' Omicron cases was much higher at 386, with 157 'probable' Omicron cases recorded yesterday. 

This is a huge increase from the UKHSA report published on Tuesday, December 14, when 252 cases were confirmed in the South West. 

On Friday, December 10, we learnt that there had been two confirmed cases of Omicron in Wiltshire with seven 'probable' cases suspected. 

London recorded the highest number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK at 3714, and Wales confirmed the lowest number of cases at 62. 

 

What is the Omicron picture across the UK in terms of cases? 

The report by the UKHSA  shows that a further 4,237 Omicron cases were reported in England in data correct as of 6pm, December 14, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 9,243. 

In the UK the total number of confirmed Omicron cases as per latest data is 10,017. 

The total 'probable' Omicron cases identified in the UK was reported as 24,973 in yesterday's report.

Probable Omicron cases are identified using an S-gene target failure test. 

What is the government doing in the face of Omicron?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated at yesterday's press conference, December 15, the need to get a booster jab as Omicron continues to spread across the UK.

He warned that in some areas the doubling rate was now under two days.

Mr Johnson said: “I’m afraid we’re also seeing the inevitable increase in hospitalisations up by 10% nationally, week on week, and up by almost a third in London.”

On a note of hope, he told press outside Downing Street: “Since Sunday night, we have seen more than 20,000 new volunteers signing up to help with the booster effort as stewards, taking the total number to almost 33,000.

“With every day we are expanding the ranks of these healthcare auxiliaries, an emerging territorial army of the NHS in a race against time to get those jabs in arms and save lives.”

What is Omicron? 

Omicron, scientifically known as B.1.1.529 variant, is a highly mutated strain of Covid.

It has 32 mutations in the spike protein, the part of the virus that vaccines use to protect the immune system from Covid. 

Omicron was first spotted in Botswana, South Africa, and there are now hundreds of cases already in the UK with Sage scientists warning that restrictions need to tighten or it could cause tens of thousands of Covid deaths in England in the next five months. 

Although the government has only recently introduced Plan B restrictions, the Daily Mail reported officials are considering Plan C restrictions in the new year. 

What is a 'probable' Omnicron case and what does S-gene target failure mean? 

A characteristic of the Omicron variant is an 'S-gene drop-out' which can be detected in a PCR test at many UK laboratories as soon as the positive case is confirmed. 

This is described as an S-gene target failure test, and results are recorded as a separate figure in the official statistics on Omicron cases.

S-gene failure is a much quicker indicator of whether someone is infected with the Omicron variant, as confirming Omicron cases requires further sequencing. 

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