NEW: first thread of 2022 is an Omicron situation update, starting with a detailed look at UK hospitals, before going international.

Let’s start with severity, and the most important chart:

Despite steep rises in cases and patients, the number on ventilators has barely risen. pic.twitter.com/p1mzD7DorK

— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) January 4, 2022