In terms of omicron we’re still missing a key piece of information and that is how much more transmissible it is compared to previous variants. Imho anything over 3x more transmissible and we will have an issue for the health service.
There has been one study in Japan not peer reviewed or confirmed which believes that it’s 4.2 times more transmissible. That would be bad news even with the 30% drop in hospitalisations.
TL
R we still don’t have enough information, South Africa’s statements can’t be taken as 100% applicable to the U.K.