A further 147 deaths due to COVID-19 and yet another dreadful record broken with 119,789 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours. While the UK Health Security Agency confirmed 16,817 additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been reported across the UK, with 90,906 confirmed UK Omicron cases now in total.
First published in December 2021.
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๐ #TodayInCOVID
Summary 23-Dec-2021
โช 24h: 119,789 โ Highest ever
โช 7 days: 678,165 โ Highest ever
โช 28 days: 1,769,283 โ Highest ever
โช Average: 96,881 cases/day โ Highest ever
๐จ Estimated cases (Kingโs College/Zoe): 151,245 cases
๐จ 6,382,607 infections since 19 July (โFreedom Dayโ)
โช 24h: 1,004 โ Highest since 8 November
โช 7 days: 6,299 โ Highest since 14 November
โช 28 days: 23,193 โ Highest since 2 December
โช 24h: 8,216 โ Highest since 17 November
โช 7 days: 54,202 โ Highest since 27 November
โช 28 days: 211,102
โช 24h: 842
โช 7 days: 6,017
โช 28 days: 24,943
โช 24h: 147
โช 7 days: 784
โช 28 days: 3,289
โช Average: 112 deaths / day
๐จ 18,872 deaths since 19 July (โFreedom Dayโ)
โช New Cases: 16,817
โช Total Cases: 90,906
โช Patients: 300
โช Deaths: 24
๐จ 1,200,000 cases
๐จ 1 in 50 people live with long COVID


- 119,789 new UK coronavirus infections in 24 hours โ the highest ever daily numbers reported, and the eighth day in a row that over 80,000 infections have been reported (the actual number is likely to be significantly higher).
- The total number of coronavirus infections reported in the last 7 days was 678,165 [highest 7-day number ever recorded] while in the last 28 days 1,769,283 infections have been reported [highest 28-day number ever recorded].
- 784 deaths due to coronavirus have been reported in the last 7 days.
- The number of deaths in the past week equates on average to around 112 deaths each of the past 7 days. If this was to be the โnew normalโ for daily deaths caused by Covid-19, then annually this would equate to around 40,880 deaths.
- Meanwhile, 3,289 deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported in the UK in the last 28 days.
- 1,004 Covid-19 hospital admissions occurred on 19 December 2021 โ according to the latest health care data for the UK as a whole.
- 8,216 patients suffering from Covid-19 are currently occupying hospital beds as of 22 December 2021.
- 842 Covid-19 patients are occupying mechanical ventilation beds โ according to the data reported on 22 December 2021.
- All three of these healthcare measures remain a continuing concern for our now seriously under-pressure NHS.


SO FAR:
- 693 days since the first infection due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus was reported in Britain (31 January 2020).
- 657 days since the first reported death (7 March 2020). Coronavirus has now been responsible for infecting over 11.7 million people in the UK (according to the official reported positive cases data).
- In this time, the virus has been responsible for at least 147,720 deaths (within 28 days of a first positive test result). Official data also currently indicate there have been 171,801 deaths in total, where the deceased personโs death certificate mentioned COVID-19 as one of the causes, registered up to Friday 10 December 2021, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Note: The data for deaths attributed to COVID-19 โ each following a reported positive test result for COVID-19 within 28 days of their death.
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)

ENGLAND
- 22 December
If youโve tested positive or have symptoms, you can stop self-isolating after 7 days instead of 10 days if you get 2 negative lateral flow test results on day 6 and 7.
- 20 December
Children aged 12 to 15 can now get their second vaccine dose if itโs been more than 12 weeks since their first vaccine dose. Book a vaccination appointment or find a walk-in vaccination site.
- 15 December
People aged 18 or over can pre-book a booster dose appointment 2 months after their second vaccine dose. You can get your booster dose 3 months after your second vaccine dose. Book a booster vaccination appointment or find a walk-in vaccination site.
All 11 countries were removed from the travel red list at 4am.
You need to show your NHS COVID Pass at nightclubs, some venues and large events to show youโre fully vaccinated, have had a negative test result in the last 48 hours, or you have an exemption.
- 14 December
Fully vaccinated contacts of someone with COVID-19 should take rapid lateral flow tests every day for 7 days. Find out when to self-isolate and what to do on the NHS website.
WALES
- 26 December
Wales moves to alert level 2. A maximum of 6 people can meet in venues such as pubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres (โrule of 6โ), 30 people at indoor events and 50 people at outdoor events. 2 metre social distancing will be required in public premises and offices. Nightclubs will close. Find out more on GOV.WALES.
- 15 December
All 11 countries were removed from the travel red list at 4am.
- 29 November
People aged 18 and over will be invited to have their booster dose a minimum of 3 months after their second vaccine dose. Your health board will contact you when itโs your turn.
SCOTLAND
- 27 December
Up to 3 households can meet with 1 metre physical distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service will be needed if alcohol is being served.
- 26 December
Large events will have 1 metre physical distancing and will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors.
- 15 December
All 11 countries were removed from the travel red list at 4am.
People aged 18 and over can now book a booster dose 3 months after their second vaccine dose. Book your booster vaccination appointment on NHS Inform.
- 14 December
You should reduce social contact as much as possible by meeting in groups of no more than 3 households.
NORTHERN IRELAND
- 27 December
You should reduce social contact as much as possible by meeting in groups of no more than 3 households.
Up to 6 people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants, or up to 10 people if theyโre all from the same household. Only table service will be available.
2 metre social distancing will be required in public premises and offices. Find out more about changes in Northern Ireland.
- 26 December
Indoor standing events will not be permitted. Nightclubs will close.
- 15 December
All 11 countries were removed from the travel red list at 4am.
- 13 December
People aged 30 and over can get their booster dose 3 months after their second vaccine dose at an HSC walk-in vaccination hub.
(Source: Gov.uk)

- Infections rise in England and Scotland
According to the ONS, the estimated number of people living in private households (not in hospitals, care homes and/or other communal establishments) that had COVID-19 in the most recent week was:
- England โ 1,202,300 people (1 in 45)
- Wales โ 54,400 people (1 in 55)
- Northern Ireland โ 37,800 people (1 in 50)
- Scotland โ 76,200 people (1 in 70)
(Source: Office for National Statistics)

#SAGE๐ฏ
— Dr Joe Pajak FRSC CSci ๐ NHS FT Governor (@JoePajak) December 23, 2021
'It is possible that the infection hospitalisation rate could rise even if #Omicron is intrinsically less severe than #Delta if vaccine escape means a higher proportion of those infected are in older age groups'.https://t.co/0K9D4j7mO2 pic.twitter.com/6u5AgGtTkf
The concept that the NHS โmayโ come under severe pressures, can only be regurgitated by naive pundits or placating executives.
— Dr Dan Goyal (@danielgoyal) December 23, 2021
We are in the sh!t. Deep, deep in the sh!t. Now. And itโs getting worse.
Sorry, thought you should know.









โ ๐งฌ Omicron variant detection
โ ๐งฌ COG-UK sequencing
(Source: COG-UK)
โ ๐งฌ UKHSA genomically confirmed case numbers
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)

๐ UK COVID-19 data

Covid-19 UK Data: First UK Lockdown to 23 December 2021.
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)
โ ๐งฎ Case & Death Totals
๐ฆ 11,769,921 positive cases so far to date (recorded) โ Since the first case was reported at the end of January 2020
๐ฏ๏ธ 147,720 deaths so far โ Number recorded within 28 days of first positive test result
๐ฏ๏ธ 171,801 total deaths โ Total number of people whose death certificate mentioned Covid-19 as one of the causesโ Registered up to Friday 10 December 2021
โ ๐ฏ๏ธ New COVID Cases in the World
โ ๐ฏ๏ธ Total COVID Cases in the World
โ ๐ฏ๏ธ New COVID Deaths in the World
โ ๐ฏ๏ธ Total COVID Deaths in the World

๐ Vaccination UK
โ ๐ Vaccine Doses
(Source: UK Health Security Agency + NHS England)
โ ๐ Booster & Third Doses
โ ๐ Vaccination of Children 12-15
(Source: UK Health Security Agency + Public Health Wales
+ Public Health Scotland + HSC NI + ONS)
Note: Data cross-referenced with the latest official data from the UK dashboard.

โ Estimated ยฎ๏ธ Number
(Sources: UK Health Security Agency + Welsh Government
+ Scottish Government + N-I Ministry of Health)
โ Population Testing Positive for COVID-19
(Source: ONS)
โ Number of contact tracing alerts sent (England & Wales)
(Source: NHS)
โ Stringency Index
(Source: University of Oxford)

๐ Data Sources:
- Daily summary: Coronavirus in the UK | UK Government
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHS Advice | PMP Magazine
- Variants: distribution of cases data | UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- Vaccination Data | UK Government
- Whatโs new | UK Government
|
๐ Full Daily UK #COVID19 Charts & Comments via #TodayInCovid: www.pmp-magazine.com/tag/today-in-covid/
๐ฆ Everything #COVID19: www.pmp-magazine.com/covid19/
๐๏ธ Sources: @CovidGenomicsUK | @UKHSA | @ONS
๐งฎ Special thanks: @JoePajak & #NHS
โ AUTHORS โโซ Dr Joe Pajak, PhD in physical chemistry: exploring the data, governor of an NHS FT hospital. |
GET THEM INVOLVED: |
Sources
- Text: This piece was first published in PMP Magazine on 23 December 2021. | The authors write in a personal capacity.
- Data cross-referenced with the latest official data from the UK dashboard.
- Cover: Adobe Stock/SergeyBitos.
- Icons from www.flaticon.com