Professor Christina Pagel, director of the Clinical Operational Research Unit at UCL, has warned that although the "usual people" are saying that the pandemic will be over once everyone is infected, mass vaccination and infection from previous waves has not stopped Omicron. Key data on Covid hospitalisations is set to be published today and will help the Prime Minister with his decision on whether to impose further restrictions. In a thread on Twitter, Professor Pagel warned that the current rate of infection is taking its toll on the NHS.

       She said: "Omicron is not the last variant.

       "Many from govt to scientists to the media to the public have decided that 100,000s cases a day are fine. We are dangerously weakening our NHS & its staff.

       "Too many people will end up with chronic illness & too many will die.

       "All I can do is keep saying it's not fine."

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