Omicron is now the most dominant Covid variant in Manchester as military called in to help with boosters

Omicron has overtaken Delta as the most dominant variant in Manchester.

The Covid variant now accounts for more than half of all new cases in the city.

Other parts of Greater Manchester are also seeing significant increases in Omicron cases which will soon be the dominant variant across the country.

Manchester’s director of public health David Regan revealed the news at a meeting of the council’s executive body on Wednesday.

He said: “Although we know that Delta is still around, it is now clear that there is evidence that Omicron is driving this increase.

“Indeed, the data from the last three-day reporting period shows that Omicron now accounts for 55 % of all new cases in the city.

“Therefore, Omicron has overtaken Delta as the most dominant variant in Manchester.”

What are local infection rates like?

The infection rate in Manchester is currently 428.6 cases per 100,000 people which is below the national average – but it has risen rapidly in the last week.

The number of Covid cases among those aged 60 and above – a ‘key indicator’ of how many people will be admitted to hospital in the future – remains steady.

But the NHS is likely to be under ‘significant pressure’ in the next few weeks, according to the public health director who met with hospital bosses today.

It comes as booster doses of the Covid vaccine are rolled out at pace with the aim of all adults to be offered one by New Year’s Eve announced on Sunday.

Regan said this new deadline will be a ‘huge challenge’ for the health system.

What’s being done to assist the booster programme?

The military is now supporting the city’s vaccination programme, which is being led by GPs in primary care with the backing of the local authority.

From today, all residents in Manchester who are over the age of 18 and had their second dose more than three months ago can book their booster jab or visit a walk-in centre: see here.

Manchester council’s deputy leader Joanna Midgley said it has been ‘really heartwarming’ to see so many people queueing up to get their booster jabs.

She added: “We know that there still are a significant proportion of people in the city that haven’t had any vaccine so we really want to send out that message again that you are welcome at any vaccination centre to get your first vaccine as soon as possible because any protection is better than none.”