Covid absences among NHS staff in England fall amid signs crisis is easing

Staff still under pressure, health leaders warn, with more than 35,000 off due to Covid on an average day

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Absences among NHS staff in England due to Covid have fallen by 22% on the previous week, figures show, with signs the staffing crisis in the health service may be easing, although health leaders have cautioned that staff are still under intense" pressure.

There were more than 35,000 Covid absences on an average day in the week to 16 January, down from almost 46,000 the week before. However, the figures are still significantly higher than the absence levels before the Omicron surge. At the start of December, there were about 12,000 absences on an average day.