Those of us lucky enough to avoid testing positive in the past 10 days have been enjoying a Christmas free of restrictions - a world away from 12 months ago.
The Omicron covid variant is spreading at breathtaking speed, but so far hospitalisations have not put hospitals at risk of buckling.
However, looking ahead to the start of the new year, the numbers are not good.
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Many people have taken comfort in news that the Omicron variant appears to pose a significantly lesser risk of putting infected patients in hospital - although estimates have ranged widely from around 15% to 70% lower.
This is undoubtedly good news, and will be an enormous relief for NHS staff - however there remains a very big 'but'.
In Liverpool, in the seven days up until December 21, 4,571 people tested positive, an increase of 1,948 on the previous week - including 293 over 60s.
As these numbers show, the sheer lightning speed at which Omicron spreads could still create enough hospitalisations to wipe out the advantages of a 'milder' variant.
Indeed the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) expert panel advised ministers on Thursday that the UK could be facing a huge wave of hospitalisations similar to other peaks.
Minutes from the meeting said: "Infections have been concentrated in younger age groups to date; hospitalisation rates will increase as older age groups are infected.
"As infections move into older age groups, a large wave of hospital admissions should be expected.
In Liverpool, the number of people being admitted to hospital with covid appears to be starting to climb according to Government data.
In the week ending December 19, 82 people were admitted to hospitals in Liverpool with Covid-19, a rise on 70 the previous week.
Across the North West, hospitalisations jumped by around 73% in the week leading up to December 22, while in London that rise was around 92%.
There were 100 patients in Liverpool's hospitals with covid by December 19, but thankfully only a relatively small number became so sick they were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hooked up to ventilators.
The numbers of patients being ventilated in the Royal Liverpool and Aintree hospitals has remained relatively steady in the past fortnight at around 10 each day.
However pressure is likely to increase, and not just from an influx of new patients.
On Christmas Eve, Dr Peter Hampshire, clinical director of critical care at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, tweeted his thoughts after a week in the ICU at the Royal.
He said: "Finished my hot week on Royal Liverpool ICU.
"Situation remains as it has for some time, a handful of patients with COVID, all had no vaccine.
"Haven't seen a huge increase so far. If Omicron is milder that will be good news for our patients. But worried about impact on staff (seeing more staff absent each day) and on hospital ward beds (if less sick people get admitted to ICU as overall infections are much higher than a month ago).
"Will wait and see what early January brings and hope case numbers fall quickly."
There is no guarantee we will see a devastating wave of hospitalisations, or that we will be placed into a full January or March 2020 style lockdown.
If we do manage to escape the worst depths of previous peaks, it will be down our most potent weapon against the pandemic - vaccinations.
Liverpool has much work to do, still around 28% of the city's population has still not had a first never mind a third jab.
Booster jabs remain the most effective defence against Omicron.
Last week Liverpool Council's director of public health, professor Matt Ashton, told the ECHO: "Our message to people is that it is never too late to get your booster or your first or second jab.
"It is your best defence against Covid-19 alongside other measures such as avoiding crowded places, wearing a face covering in shops and on public transport.
"If you are meeting up with friends and family this festive season, protect them by taking a lateral flow test just before you go to make sure you are not infectious.
“January may well be difficult, with lots of disruption. However, if we all work together, as we have done so well over the last couple of years, we can get through it."
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