England is scrambling to set up temporary 'Nightingale' surge hubs in hospitals this week as COVID-19 hospitalizations soar to levels not seen since March 🌡️. The National Health Service (NHS) confirmed eight facilities will be built, each holding around 100 patients, with capacity to expand to 4,000 additional beds nationwide. This comes as the UK reported a record 183,037 daily cases on Wednesday, driven by the Omicron variant and holiday gatherings 🎄.
🚨 Hospitals on 'War Footing': Over 10,000 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in England, pushing the NHS into crisis mode. National medical director Stephen Powis described the situation as a 'war footing,' with staff shortages and testing delays compounding the strain.
⚠️ Test Shortages Hit England: Demand for lateral flow and PCR tests has overwhelmed supplies ahead of New Year's Eve. Pharmacies report unreliable stock, and the government's testing portal showed zero availability across England on Thursday morning 🔍. While Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have imposed tighter restrictions, England has opted against new rules—for now.
Globally, Europe faces similar COVID-19 surges, but England's unique response with temporary hubs highlights the urgency of its healthcare crunch. Stay tuned for updates as the situation evolves 🌍.
