UK is first country in Europe to pass 150,000 Covid deaths: Boris Johnson recognises 'terrible toll' of pandemic as figures hit grim milestone... but data shows fatalities levelling off amid hopes Omicron is LESS deadly than flu

• Official figures showed a further 313 deaths were reported in the Government's daily data on Saturday 
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson recognised the 'terrible toll' that the virus has had on the country
• He said each death is a 'profound loss' to the 'families, friends and communities affected'  

By HARRY HOWARD FOR MAILONLINE - 8 January 2022 

More than 150,000 people have now died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago.  

Boris Johnson recognised the 'terrible toll' of coronavirus on the UK after official figures showed a further 313 deaths were reported in the Government's daily data on Saturday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 150,057.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the toll was a 'dark milestone for our country'. 

Jo Goodman, a co-founder of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign, said the official figure of 150,000 coronavirus deaths being recorded was 'yet another indictment of the Government's handling of the pandemic'. 

Professor Andrew Hayward, who sits on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the total passed on Saturday, when an additional 313 deaths were announced, was an 'absolute tragedy' made worse because 'many of them were avoidable if we had acted earlier in the first and second wave'.

With a total of 150,057 deaths by that way of measuring, the UK became the seventh country to pass the milestone, following the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru. It means it is also the first in Europe.

But separate figures from the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 174,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

The new deaths were announced as the NHS continues to face significant strain from the Omicron variant and record high cases, though death rates are not as nearly as sharp as earlier in the pandemic because of vaccines and the new strain being believed to be milder.

Scientists also believe that Omicron could be less deadly even than the flu, meaning the pandemic could now finally be coming to an end. 

MailOnline analysis showed Covid killed one in 33 people who tested positive at the peak of the devastating second wave last January, compared to just one in 670 now. But experts believe the figure could be even lower because of Omicron.

On another day of coronavirus news: 

• Britain's daily Covid figures fell for the third day in a row today, official data showed in a sign the worst of the Omicron wave may be over in the country;
• Thousands of defiant protesters staged the largest anti-lockdown rally in recent months as they marched through Glasgow against Nicola Sturgeon's draconian Covid restrictions; 
• France 'could soon SCRAP ban on British tourists' as thousands of anti-lockdown erupt across Europe for another weekend with thousands marching through Paris, Germany and Austria against strict Covid curbs; 
• Doctors warned 'no jab, no job' rule will make NHS staff shortages worse after a consultant confronted Sajid Javid on camera to say he doesn't want vaccine because he 'has had COVID, and feels protected by antibodies';
• An English football club faces being driven out of business after Wales launched a Covid crackdown on it for breaking the nation's crowd rules because its stadium straddles the border; 
• Premier League footballers who refuse Covid vaccinations have been warned they face losing the elite athlete exemption that allows them to skip mandatory 10-day isolation requirements when returning from abroad; 
• Up to a quarter of all school staff could take time off next week due to sickness or Covid isolation, education unions have warned.

More than 150,000 people have now died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago

Boris Johnson recognised the 'terrible toll' of coronavirus on the UK after official figures showed a further 313 deaths were reported in the Government's daily data on Saturday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 150,057

With a total of 150,057 deaths by that way of measuring, the UK became the seventh country to pass the milestone, following the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru. Above: A pedestrian walks past the National Covid Memorial Wall in London on December 29, 2021

Fourth shot may be needed for Omicron and future variants: Professor

After hearing the testimony of a woman who lost two close relatives during the pandemic, Professor Hayward, who works at University College London, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: 'It is absolutely tragic and to think that's been repeated so many times is awful.

'I think we could have done better. I think some of the deaths are even more tragic for the fact that many of them were avoidable if we had acted earlier in the first and second wave.'

In a tweeted statement, the Prime Minister said: 'Coronavirus has taken a terrible toll on our country and today the number of deaths recorded has reached 150,000.

'Each and every one of those is a profound loss to the families, friends and communities affected and my thoughts and condolences are with them.

'Our way out of this pandemic is for everyone to get their booster or their first or second dose if they haven't yet.

'I want to thank everyone in the NHS and all the volunteers who have come forward to help with our country's vaccine programme.' 

Sir Keir added: 'Our thoughts are with all those who have lost someone, and we thank everyone supporting the vaccination effort,' he tweeted.

'We must ensure the public inquiry provides answers and that lessons are learned.'

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: 'This is a terribly sad milestone for our country. Every life lost has left many more hearts broken. 

 

In a tweeted statement, the Prime Minister said: 'Coronavirus has taken a terrible toll on our country and today the number of deaths recorded has reached 150,000. 'Each and every one of those is a profound loss to the families, friends and communities affected and my thoughts and condolences are with them. 'Our way out of this pandemic is for everyone to get their booster or their first or second dose if they haven't yet'

'We owe it to those who've lost their lives and those who miss them to ask what could have been done differently and to learn lessons from the inquiry.'

Ms Goodman, of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign, said: 'We didn't need to be here and bereaved families and the rest of the country need answers as to how we have suffered one of the highest global death tolls.

What do we know about Omicron? 

Scientists know Omicron is more infectious than previous strains of Covid due to the speed it has taken off around the world.

The variant has also been linked with causing more reinfections that previous strains, which experts say is likely due to its extensive mutations.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) analysis of nearly 800 Omicron infectious found six per cent were reinfections, suggesting it is 5.5 times more likely to re-infect than Delta. 

And some experts say the period of the new variant - the time taken from infection to first symptoms - appears to be much shorter than other strains.

However, experts in South Africa, where the strain first emerged, and in the UK have said the variant is milder than previous versions of the virus.

Scientists in the UK said those infected with Omicron are 70 per cent less likely to be hospitalised, but experts in South Africa said the figure may be as high as 80 per cent.

However, it is unclear whether this is because the strain is inherently less severe or if protection from vaccines and prior infection mean people who catch Omicron are becoming less unwell. 

Analysis by the UKHSA revealed immunity gained from third Covid jabs fades quicker against Omicron than Delta. 

Adults who received two AstraZeneca doses, plus a Pfizer or Moderna booster, are 60 per cent less likely to get symptoms than the unvaccinated if they catch Omicron up to four weeks after their third jab. But after ten weeks, efficacy drops to 35 per cent for Pfizer and 45 per cent for Moderna.

Meanwhile, those who received Pfizer for all three of their doses saw their protection levels increase to around 70 per cent for two weeks after their top-up dose before falling to around 45 per cent 10 weeks later. 

People given two AstraZeneca vaccines and a Moderna booster were the most protected, according to the report, with efficacy sitting at 75 per cent against Omicron and lasting for at least nine weeks.

'This is ever more urgent as deaths from the Omicron variant continue to surge, with little apparently being done to address this. The public inquiry cannot begin its work soon enough.

'We continue to feel frustrated at the use of 28 day figures to portray the death toll, when the true figures of those with Covid-19 recorded as a cause of death are significantly higher.

'The 23,191 loved ones who struggled again the virus for more than four weeks deserve to be acknowledged on the same basis as others, and the failure to do so is a source of continuing upset to families across the country.'

The chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) council said the UK has marked 'a sombre and deeply tragic milestone' as he called on the Government to enforce 'immediate public health measures' to fight the impact of coronavirus.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul said official figures showing more than 150,000 people have now died within 28 days of contracting Covid were a 'stark reminder' that the virus remains 'serious and deadly'.

'Today marks a sombre and deeply tragic milestone in our fight against this devastating virus. Each of the 150,000 who have died have left loved ones and friends behind, and our thoughts and sympathies go out to them for their loss,' he said.

'We must not play down the impact of Omicron as a mild illness, especially with increasing numbers of patients being hospitalised.'

Dr Nagpaul said the latest variant of the virus was resulting in soaring NHS staff absences, making it vital to increase protection against the virus for medics.

'This is exactly why we're calling for higher-grade respirator PPE masks, which can filtrate airborne spread of the virus which normal surgical masks do not,' he said.

'Government must do all it can to get control of Omicron with immediate public health measures, not only to protect the health service, but also more people from unnecessarily losing their lives.'

In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said on Saturday: 'Every death from this virus is a tragedy and our sympathies are with everyone who has lost loved ones.

'We are thankful for the collective national effort and the hard work of frontline health and social care staff and volunteers for administering vaccines to tens of millions of people and keeping people safe. Their tireless efforts have saved thousands of lives.

'But the pandemic is not over. That's why it is so important everyone continues to play their part, by coming forward to get boosted now, or getting a first or second jab, if you have yet to do so.'

Earlier on Saturday, a warning was issued over the 'concerning' rates of Omicron in England's North East and North West as concerns continued over NHS staffing levels.

Figures showed that three of the five UK areas with the biggest week-on-week rises in Covid case rates are Middlesbrough (748.8 to 2,651.4), Copeland (1,731.3 to 3,525.8) and Redcar and Cleveland (846.8 to 2,564.3).

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Government's Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M) highlighted these regions, along with the Midlands, as areas of concern.

The University of Warwick academic said cases in London are 'slowing down', but scientists need two weeks to see if this continues.

Dr Tildesley told Times Radio: 'Most other parts of the country are about two to three weeks behind where London is in their epidemic profile.

'Particularly concerning is the North East and the North West - if you look at hospital admissions in those two regions they are going up, also the Midlands, where I live, that's also a little bit concerning, so it is a worry.

Scenes from UK hospital as grim Covid deaths milestone reached

'On the slightly more positive side, so it doesn't sound all doom and gloom, what we are seeing from hospital admissions is that stays in hospital do appear to be on average shorter, which is good news, symptoms appear to be a little bit milder, so this is what we are seeing consistently with the Omicron variant.'

In the Midlands, Northamptonshire leaders declared a system-wide major incident on Friday due to Covid-19.

Northamptonshire Local Resilience Forum, which is made up of NHS organisations, local authorities, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and Northamptonshire Police, issued the alert due to 'rising demand on services and staffing levels'.

However, Dr Tildesley added that Omicron is possibly the 'first ray of light' in ensuring Covid-19 becomes endemic and easier to live with, similar to the common cold.

He said: 'The thing that might happen in the future is you may see the emergence of a new variant that is less severe and, ultimately, in the long term, what happens is Covid becomes endemic and you have a less severe version. It's very similar to the common cold that we've lived with for many years.'

Meanwhile, the armed forces stepped in to fill a staffing crisis in the NHS caused by the rapid spread of the variant. 

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