The average time for Omicron cases to double in the South West has become more rapid and over 4,000 cases have now been confiirmed.

There are 4,421 confirmed Omicron cases in the South West as of UKHSA's latest report, published December 21. 

The time in which confirmed Omicron cases are doubling in the South West has reduced to every 1.81 days on average since yesterday's report.

This means confirmed Omicron case numbers in the South West could reach over 8000 by Christmas eve, and potentially 16,000 by Boxing day if the trend continues. 

The previous report, December 20, had Omicron cases doubling every 2.26 days on average. 

This interactive map shows confirmed Omicron cases in regions across the UK.

Omicron is a highly mutated strain of Covid that is more transmissive than previous recorded variants such as Delta.

READ MORE: Positive cases for Covid pass 100,000 - the highest daily figure in the UK so far

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

A report by the UK Health Security Agency published yesterday, December 21, shows that 1075 new cases of Omicron were confirmed in the South West on Monday bringing the latest regional total of confirmed Omicron cases to 4,421. 

The number of additional 'probable' Omicron cases was at 4066, with 753 'probable' Omicron cases recorded on December 20. 

Following the trend, UKHSA has concluded that cases in the South West are doubling every 1.81 days on average. 

On Sunday Decemeber 19, the South West had the slowest doubling rate out of all UK regions. 

As per the latest, December 21 report, the South West now has the third fastest doubling rate out of all UK regions.  

The region with the fastest average doubling rate is the North East at 1.7 days on average, and the region with the slowest doubling rate is the South East at 2.35 days. 

London recorded the highest number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK at 16,081, and Wales confirmed the lowest number of cases at 640. 

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

The report by the UKHSA  shows that a further 14,791 Omicron cases were reported in England in data correct as of 6pm, December 20, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 56,041. 

In the UK the total number of confirmed Omicron cases as per latest data is 60,508. 

The total 'probable' Omicron cases identified in the UK was reported as a further 143,252 in yesterday's UKHSA report.

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

How many hospitalisations and deaths have been recorded in relation to Omicron?

As of the latest UKHSA report, for dates up to December 19, 14 deaths have been recorded in the UK in relation to Omicron. 

In terms of people hospitalised with either a confirmed or suspected Omicron infection, the number in the UK is 129. 

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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