COVID-19: Wirral infection rate rising rapidly, with nearly 4,000 cases

Wirral’s coronavirus cases are rising rapidly, with nearly 4,000 cases registered in the latest figures.

In the week up to 24 December, there were 3,942 cases recorded in the borough at a rate of 1,215 per 100,000.

That is a 93% rise on the rate of 631 per 100,000 seen in the figures for the previous week, with 2,048 infections registered.

The latest figures available show the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 in Wirral remains around 30, a figure which has been fairly stable since October.

But these numbers only go up to 21 December and it remains to be seen what impact this latest surge in cases has on hospitalisations.

It is hoped the impact of such a high level of cases on hospitals will be less severe than previous waves, given that people who contract the Omicron variant are less likely to need hospital treatment than those who contract other variants of the virus such as Delta.

PM tells nation to test before NYE

Given the surge in coronavirus cases across the country, Boris Johnson has issued an urgent warning for anyone planning to celebrate New Year.

During a visit to a vaccination centre in Milton Keynes on Wednesday, the Prime Minister urged people to get tested before New Year’s Eve festivities.

Mr Johnson told reporters: “Everybody should enjoy New Year but in a cautious and sensible way – take a test, ventilation, think about others but, above all, get a booster.”

Meanwhile, he continued to drive forward the Covid-19 vaccination programme, saying he “cannot stress too much” how important a booster shot is.

Mr Johnson said 2.4m eligible double-jabbed people are yet to take up the offer of a booster. He added: “I’m sorry to say this but the overwhelming majority of people who are currently ending up in intensive care in our hospitals are people who are not boosted.

“I’ve talked to doctors who say the numbers are running up to 90% of people in intensive care who are not boosted.”

There are no official NHS figures on the vaccination status of people in intensive care but medics have warned the vast majority are either unvaccinated or have not had all their doses.