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12/01/2022
Estimated 99,200 Covid-19 Cases In First Week Of January
An estimated 99,200 people in Northern Ireland had Covid-19 between 31 December and 06 January, according to the latest Department of Health statics.
The estimated figure represents 5.41% of the population or around 1 in 20 people. Modelling suggests the percentage of people testing positive continued to increase in the week ending 06 January in Northern Ireland.
COVID-19 infections compatible with the Omicron variant continued to increase across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and Omicron continues to be the most common variant across all UK countries; Delta compatible infections have fallen to very low levels and Omicron is now the dominant variant across the UK
The World Health Organization (WHO) have defined names for 'Variants of Concern'. These are variants that the UK government has under surveillance.
UK Variants of Concern:
Alpha: B.1.1.7
Beta: B.1.351
Gamma: P.1
Delta: B.1.617.2 and its genetic descendants
Omicron: B.1.1.529 (which includes sublineages BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3)
The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of COVID-19 has changes in one of the three genes that coronavirus swab tests detect, known as the S-gene. This means in cases compatible with the Omicron variant, the S-gene is no longer detected by the current test. When there is a high viral load (for example, when a person is most infectious) absence of the S-gene in combination with the presence of the other two genes (ORF1ab and N-genes) is a reliable indicator of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). However, as the viral load decreases (for example, if someone is near the end of their recovery from the infection), the absence of the S-gene is a less reliable indicator of the Omicron variant.
The estimated figure represents 5.41% of the population or around 1 in 20 people. Modelling suggests the percentage of people testing positive continued to increase in the week ending 06 January in Northern Ireland.
COVID-19 infections compatible with the Omicron variant continued to increase across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and Omicron continues to be the most common variant across all UK countries; Delta compatible infections have fallen to very low levels and Omicron is now the dominant variant across the UK
The World Health Organization (WHO) have defined names for 'Variants of Concern'. These are variants that the UK government has under surveillance.
UK Variants of Concern:
Alpha: B.1.1.7
Beta: B.1.351
Gamma: P.1
Delta: B.1.617.2 and its genetic descendants
Omicron: B.1.1.529 (which includes sublineages BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3)
The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of COVID-19 has changes in one of the three genes that coronavirus swab tests detect, known as the S-gene. This means in cases compatible with the Omicron variant, the S-gene is no longer detected by the current test. When there is a high viral load (for example, when a person is most infectious) absence of the S-gene in combination with the presence of the other two genes (ORF1ab and N-genes) is a reliable indicator of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). However, as the viral load decreases (for example, if someone is near the end of their recovery from the infection), the absence of the S-gene is a less reliable indicator of the Omicron variant.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
