Number of virus patients in city's hospitals rises by a quarter in one week

Every patient I saw was unvaccinated. It was so depressing because it just feels so avoidable

- Ross Lydall

THE number of Covid patients in London hospitals has increased by almost a quarter in a week as doctors expressed frustration at the number of unvaccinated people being admitted.

There were a total of 1,360 patients being treated for Covid yesterday, 258 more than a week earlier — a rise of 23.4 per cent. This included more than 200 patients on ventilators.

The total is below the 2,212 virus patients who were in the capital’s hospitals exactly a year ago but raises concerns that a sharp rise in admissions could be on the way over the next fortnight due to the lag between infections and hospitalisations. Omicron is expected to become the dominant strain in London within hours.