They are daily and cumulative numbers of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital.
For non-covid patients, the NHS waiting list hit a 14 year record high of 4.7 million people in April * - it will be higher by now with almost no chance of a reduction.
That is very concerning, and sad actually. 
Sad yes but it’s certainly not a surprise.
You can’t fit two people into one hospital bed.
There are according to the latest official release of data currently 2731 patients in UK hospital beds as a result of Covid-19 infection.
Again note that this figure is for the whole UK.
In January this year 4,000 per day were being admitted - that’s more per day than there is in total currently hospitalized.
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare
Better news comes as the rate of growth in new cases falls, thanks primarily to our vaccine programme which suggests the current strategy is effective.
Surely nobody is expecting a quick return to some form of normality, whether that is with hospital waiting lists or with the ability to have a fuss-free holiday abroad?
A further 32,367 confirmed cases in the UK were announced by the government on Saturday … :shock:
That’s 213,528 in the last 7 days … :!:
Hospitalisations are still rising:
Daily 563 Last 7 days 3,081
NHS backlog in England could reach 13,000,000, says Sajid Javid
Sajid Javid told the Sunday Telegraph officials warned the current waiting list of 5,300,000 “could get worse”. Mr Javid said he was shocked to learn during his first days in the job that one projection estimated the backlog could amount to 13,000,000 * patients.
Among the solutions, Mr Javid said, would be to pay private healthcare providers to continue to treat NHS patients and keeping virtual doctors’ appointments.
- When I said “higher”, I didn’t envisage by so much, so soon …
A further 31,772 confirmed cases in the UK were announced by the government on Sunday … :shock:
That’s 221,052 in the last 7 days … :!:
A further 34,471 confirmed cases in the UK were announced by the government on Monday … :shock:
That’s 228,189 in the last 7 days … :!:
There might well be 1,000,000 for the month of July … 
Which means very little if the number of hospitalized and new fatalities remains low - in fact it very strongly suggests just how effective the vaccine is, which is good news!
With the rise in recorded infections not refected in a rise in hospitalizations or deaths, the number of asymptomatic infected must of course also be increasing from the original 20% + which is also good news.
Heathrow’s long queues blamed on self-isolating staff
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6FnR5vWEAEQQV2?format=jpg&name=medium
Heathrow’s Terminal 5 saw long queues at security on Monday morning because of the absence of more than 100 staff.
The airport said the issue had arisen because the security staff were instructed to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace app.
Some passengers experienced lengthy queues from 06:00. Many complained that there was limited social distancing.
It comes as the government faces calls to bring forward changes to Covid self-isolation rules.
The disruption affected only Terminal 5 and did not involve Border Force officers.
Some passengers complained on Twitter about “total chaos” and posted pictures of large crowds at the terminal.
“Chaos at the airport” … :!:
England will move to the final stage of easing Covid restrictions on 19 July, ministers have confirmed.
It means almost all legal restrictions on social contact will be removed.
But the prime minister said it was vital to proceed with “caution” because “this pandemic is not over” .
The peak of the current wave is not expected before mid-August and could lead to between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions per day, according to government scientists.
Central estimates from modellers advising the government also show that Covid deaths are expected to be between 100 and 200 per day at the peak, although there is a large amount of uncertainty.
There’s a lot of uncertainty about social behaviour, too … with no legal requirements, just guidelines, who will bother with distancing, masks and hygiene … 
I’m thinking its so well ingrained in us by now, that it will be habit. (she says, optimistically :shock:)
We’ll see …
It will be for some, but I’m afraid there will be far too many people delighted that they no longer ‘have to’ wear a mask or socially distance, and all caution will be thrown to the proverbial wind, along with heaven knows how many Covid-laden droplets…
… 
This worries me too, Sheba. I guess we will just have to keep out of their way then.
I’ll still wear my mask in shops and indoor places…
Think about it logically, some people say that masks don’t offer protection for the wearer, however, they will prevent an infected person exhaling contaminated covid laden particles…
Surely, masks don’t just work one way round, if they stop particles getting out, they must stop particles going in…
I believe this too, Foxy and will continue to wear mine regardless. 
Yes I completely agree with you, which is why we have both said we’ll continue to wear masks in shops or any other indoor public areas.
We might even go back to online shopping if numbers really go up alarmingly, which I really don’t want to do but I reckon our health is more important than being able to pick our own groceries off the shelves.
Yes I was thinking that this morning actually. I have enjoyed being able to go out and about more now, but I am quite happy to retreat back into lockdown mode if the need arises. :shock:
We won’t be changing …still wear our masks, and won’t mind if I go back to ordering groceries online, that covid is still about