Nottinghamshire health experts reveal number of new omicron covid cases in the community

There are at least nine positive cases of the omicron covid variant in Nottinghamshire, according to health experts.

Health bosses told the Advertiser they had seen community transmission of the omicron variant and that residents must continue to be cautious.

Lucy Hubber, director of Public Health at Nottingham city, confirmed seven cases were found in the city, while Jonathan Gribbin, director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council, said two were present in the wider county.

"Covid, itself, is very serious," said Mrs Hubber.

"Nationally, we are seeing hundreds of deaths a day from covid — we should be taking all the action we can, regardless of variants, to reduce the spread of covid.

"At the moment omicron is no different to the previous variants that we have had.

"It is something new that we need to take into consideration.

"We are taking delayed action so we can take the time to learn and reduce pressure on the NHS.

"I wouldn't want to give concern that it is out there and it is terrifying."

Mr Gribbin provided further context.

"There are more than 600 people testing positive a day for coronavirus in Nottinghamshire county," he said.

"We have two confirmed cases of the omicron variant in the county, but that situation represents something which is growing and can change fast.

"We won't be in a position to provide an hour by hour commentary of numbers as we go forward.

"What we have at the moment is evidence of community transmission in Nottinghamshire and that is a concern.

"We already know about what we can and should do individually and collectively (to stop the spread)."

In the week running up to December 5, there were 100 covid-related admissions into the county's hospitals, with 175 hospital beds occupied.

"We have had consistently between 150 to 200 people in our hospital beds, which is a big proportion of beds taken up," said Amanda Sullivan, accountable officer at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG.

"They are beds that would normally be taken by people with other conditions. That is adding to the pressures."

Sixteen covid-related deaths were reported between December 2 to December 8.

"That is a typical number of deaths in our area sadly, it is a daily event that people are dying from covid," she said.

"I am not aware of any omicron cases in the hospitals."