The UK has recorded a surge of 119,789 Covid-19 cases, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic and a 35 per cent increase in just one week.
Department of Health figures show a further 147 lives have been lost to the virus days before Christmas.
And there were 1,000 further Covid hospitalisations when data was last submitted to the coronavirus dashboard.
Last Thursday, on December 16, 88,376 cases were reported, which at the time was the highest figure of the pandemic so far. The Department of Health recorded 146 deaths last Thursday, just one less than today's figure.
According to data from Britain's Office for National Statistics, one in 45 people in England are infected with coronavirus. This is its highest estimate so far during the pandemic.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there had been 16,817 additional confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 reported across the UK, bringing the total confirmed cases of the variant in the UK to 90,906.
Imperial College London research indicates people with Omicron are 15-20% less likely to enter hospital, and 40-45% less likely to need a hospital stay of one night or more, than people with Delta.
Yet Imperial warned this “appears to be offset” by the speed at which the variant is spreading - with confirmed cases topping 100,000 a day for the first time.
There were 307 Covid-19 admissions recorded by hospitals in London on December 21, NHS England said, a 54% week-on-week increase and the highest number for a single day since February 4.
Admissions in London during the second wave peaked at 977 on January 6.
Across England, 1,098 admissions were recorded on December 21, up 35% week-on-week and the highest number for a single day since February 18.
The number of Covid-19 admissions includes people admitted to hospital in the previous 24 hours who were known to have Covid-19, plus any patients diagnosed in hospital with Covid-19 in the previous 24 hours.
Admissions in London during the second wave peaked at 977 on January 6.
Scientists have warned that if stricter containment measures aren't implemented quickly, the strain could quickly run rampant and collapse the NHS.
Imperial’s Professor Paul Elliott has also warned the R number is “now substantially above 1” due to Omicron.
Despite rising cases, Boris Johnson is not expected to make any announcement on new Covid restrictions for England until after Boxing Day.
As December 27 and 28 are both bank holidays, and with Parliament taking around two days to recall, that could suggest no measures would take force until around December 29 at the earliest.
Mr Johnson is under mounting pressure to act after Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland all spelt out stringent measures as soon as Boxing Day.
But it’s thought he has delayed any announcement until December 27 at the earliest after a Cabinet spat - and data suggesting the Omicron variant is less severe.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford yesterday accused Boris Johnson of “paralysis” and urged him to act over soaring infection rates.
Yet Tory MPs are mutinous about any prospect of new restrictions, with 100 alone rebelling over face masks and Covid passports for nightclubs.
One source told the FT legally enforceable measures were not likely to take force before 2022 - though ‘guidance’ before then was possible.
“We would struggle to see regulations kick in before the new year,” a Whitehall official told the paper.
The Prime Minister has previously looked at returning to ‘step 2’ style measures with pubs and restaurants serving outdoor only.
There would also be restrictions on indoor gatherings under such measures, which were urged by SAGE advisors.
But a source told the FT: “The PM hasn’t looked at options yet … There’s still not enough data to justify further restrictions.”
Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson warned the number of unvaccinated people in ICUs were a “source of frustration” and medics were "already working beyond full stretch”.
Labour today demanded urgent action to stop the “closure by stealth” of live events, theatre and music.
Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell called for faster payments under the Culture Recovery Fund, a wider scope for it, and an urgent review of the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme to broaden it to more situations.
She said: “Pantos and other cultural events at Christmas are great British traditions, that are now at risk as many productions and live events have seen a dramatic drop off in demand and many, many cancellations due to Covid.
“The government needs to take further action to support the sector before we see the demise of many of our treasured theatres and venues across the country and a nightmare before Christmas for freelancers and workers for whom this should be their boom time of the year.”
