THE number of Covid patients in intensive care has fallen to just 20 a day, compared to 400 at the height of the second wave.
New figures show Omicron is failing to cause serious illness in most vaccinated Britons.
A report from the National Audit and Research Center on Intensive Care shows that there were only 19 admissions to intensive care on January 23. The Sunday times reports.
At the height of the second wave, in January last year, as many as 400 people were admitted per day.
Professor David Harrison, the centre's chief statistician, said that despite a delay in reporting, the number of patients will still only be between 20 and 30 by the end of January.
In a new glimmer of hope, 425 patients in England are in mechanically ventilated beds – the lowest level since July 11.
This is in stark contrast to January 23 last year, when there were more than 3,700.
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a leading statistician, said: “The Omicron wave saw a huge increase in cases and a moderate increase in hospital admissions. And yet ICU admissions have not shown any increase and are now falling rapidly.
“Since more than half of ICU admissions have not been vaccinated, this indicates an intrinsically milder virus rather than just increased protection against vaccination.”
Omicron is currently the dominant strain in Britain, but most people who become infected with the disease show cold symptoms.
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A series of hugely positive studies show that Omicron IS is milder than other types, with the first official UK report showing the risk of hospital admission is 50 to 70 per cent lower than Delta.
Covid booster shots protect against Omicron and offer the best chance of weathering the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping to get vital extra vaccines into Britons' arms to avert the need for new restrictions.
The report also shows that the average age for Omicron patients in intensive care is 63 – five years higher than Delta.
Figures also show that unvaccinated people over 70 are 58 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care than people with three injections.
Non-stimulated Britons also accounted for 61 percent of intensive care admissions in December.