London Ambulance Service (LAS) received as many emergency calls on 26 December as it did at the height of the first wave of Covid-19, the BBC has learned. Nearly 8,000 calls were received, a 40% increase on a typical “busy” day. Patient demand was “now arguably greater” than during the first wave, an internal message to all staff said. LAS said it was “working urgently” to reduce delays. It urged people only to dial 999 with genuine life-threatening emergencies and to use 111 if possible. The rapid spread of the new variant of Covid-19 was said to be the cause of the increased demand, according to the message. The UK reported another 30,501 positive tests on Sunday, and 316 deaths of people who had tested positive within the past 28 days.
via bbc: Covid-19: London Ambulance Service receives as many 999 calls as first wave