{"id":143210,"date":"2021-12-11T16:54:37","date_gmt":"2021-12-11T20:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=143210"},"modified":"2021-12-11T16:54:37","modified_gmt":"2021-12-11T20:54:37","slug":"omicron-study-suggests-major-wave-in-january","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/omicron-study-suggests-major-wave-in-january\/","title":{"rendered":"Omicron study suggests major wave in January"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

The UK is facing a substantial wave of Omicron infections in January without further restrictions, scientists say.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

The number of deaths from the variant by the end of April could range from 25,000 to 75,000 depending on how well vaccines perform, they said.<\/p>\n

But the experts behind the study said there was still uncertainty around the modelling.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

And another scientist who is not linked to the research said the study\u2019s worst case scenarios were unlikely.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

The study is by an influential group of disease modellers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) who also advise the government \u2013 but it is not a crystal ball. It does not say what will happen with the Omicron variant of coronavirus but gives a range of possible outcomes.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The research is based on the assumption Omicron is less severe if you have been vaccinated, and also takes into account the current Plan B measures.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

High uptake of the booster dose is likely to mitigate the impact of the Omicron wave, the researchers said.<\/p>\n

It came as the UK announced a further 54,073 new cases on Saturday, including 633 of Omicron \u2013 although the real number of Omicron cases is estimated to be much higher.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Dr Nick Davies, one of the researchers, said Omicron was spreading \u201cvery fast\u201d, was \u201cquite concerning\u201d and was likely to be the dominant form of the virus in England by the end of the year.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

The report says the number of people infected is currently doubling every 2.4 days in England.<\/p>\n

That is despite the country having high levels of vaccination and is faster than the original form of the virus spread when nobody had protection.<\/p>\n

Dr Davies said: \u201cBased on what we\u2019re seeing we can expect there to be a large wave of Omicron in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the worst-case scenario, tougher restrictions may be needed \u2013 on top of the current measures in place in the UK \u2013 to stop hospitals being overwhelmed, they said.<\/p>\n

What are the scenarios?<\/h2>\n

In the most optimistic scenario, which assumes Omicron has low immune escape and booster jabs are highly effective, the model projects between 1 December and 30 April in England there will be:<\/p>\n