Liverpool is experiencing record numbers of Covid-19 cases, as the rapidly spreading Omicron variant makes its way around the city.
Cases in Liverpool continue to break records, with the rate of infection per 100,000 residents now at 1,640 - the highest at any point during the pandemic.
In the week up to December 28, there were 8,170 positive tests, an increase of 3,309 on the previous week.
Read more: Record covid cases expected to bring 'serious disruption' to Liverpool
Liverpool's positivity testing rate is now at a huge 24.2% - meaning that just shy of a quarter of all tests carried out in the city are coming back as positive.
The hope is that these record numbers will not result in a wave of hospitalisations like we saw last January - with the majority of people in the city protected by vaccines and an encouraging increase in those coming forward for booster jabs.
There has been a rise in covid patients in Liverpool's hospitals (from 90 on December 19 to 158 on December 28) - but only 14 (under 9%) of these patients are in ventilation beds - a clear sign that vaccines are preventing the worst impacts of the virus.
But the rapid spread of infections presents potential other issues such as staff sickness in the NHS and social care settings.
Yesterday, Liverpool's Public Health Director Matt Ashton said it is this pressure on frontline services that could be the biggest problem facing the city in the weeks ahead.
He said: "We have hospitals in Lincolnshire on red alert because they do not have enough staff, and London has been struggling for a while.
"Over the next couple of weeks we may end up in a similar position."
The rapid spread of Omicron means all areas of the city are now posting large numbers of covid cases - but some are more impacted than others.
Not for the first time, the Riverside ward - which includes parts of Dingle and Toxteth - has the highest current total of cases, with a huge 429 registered in the most recent seven day period.
This is a fair way higher than the next most impacted city area, which is the city centre (Central ward) - with 364 new weekly infections.
After this the highest levels of new infections are in Allerton and Hunts Cross (321), Norris Green (320), Cressington (291), Fazakerley (289) and St Michael's (287).
The city areas with the least new infections are Picton (196), Anfield (207), Kensington and Fairfield (207) and Tuebrook and Stoneycroft (214).
Liverpool has previously struggled with vaccination rates compared with national figures, but Professor Ashton said he has been pleased to see an increase in uptake - which he hopes will continue to break the link between infections and serious illness.
He said: ""It has been wonderful to see the increase in people coming forward to get their first or second jabs.
"We have done really well in Liverpool with the booster rollout, the conversion rate from two to three jabs is really good, we're really pleased to see that.
"Clearly the first and second jabs are lower. Although they are in line with other core cities, they are too low for me.
"But recently in our clinics we have been seeing hundreds of people every day coming forward for their first or second jabs.
"We will keep on making our vaccination clinics accessible and I would say it's never too late to start on your vaccination journey."
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