On November 24, the first Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 variant) case identified in South Africa was reported to the WHO.

Three days later, the UK had recorded the first two cases of the new coronavirus variant.

This morning, there are 14 cases. None of which are thought to be in Macclesfield.

From today, face coverings have become mandatory again in shops and on public transport in England as a precaution against the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Those who do not comply may face a fine.

The new measures are to combat this variant which may have an increase risk of infection, according to the WHO, including for those who have previously had COVID.

As a result, we may expect cases to go up in Macclesfield next week.

This will buck the trend of the decline which led to just over 300 cases in our town for the days leading up to November 18.

But as government case data lags by six or seven days at any given time, the latest coronavirus figures for Macclesfield can be found below.

This shows the amount of positive tests for the seven–day period ending on 24 November 2021, which was the first day Omicron was confirmed as a new variant.

Listed in Alphabetical Order

Brackets denote changes from the previous seven days Bollington 40 (down 9) 49

Central Macclesfield 47 (up 1) 46

Gawsworth & Macclesfield Forest 26 (down 4) 30

Macclesfield Bollinbrook 36 (up 6) 30

Macclesfield East & Hurdsfield 23 (down 20) 43

Macclesfield Tytherington 29 (up 8) 21

Macclesfield Upton Priory & Greenside 24 (down 12) 36

Macclesfield Weston 24 (down 1) 25

Macclesfield South & Lyme Green 32 (up 13) 19

Prestbury and Adlington 22 (up 13) 9

This means there was a total of at least 303 coronavirus cases on the seven day period to 24 November 2021. A decrease of five from the previous seven days up to November 17, where there were 308 confirmed cases. Figures could increase with Omicron B, despite increase restrictions, next week. And while we don't know any stats for Macclesfield cases since the new variant was confirmed in Britain, we do have more recent stats for Cheshire East. 195 new people in Cheshire East had a confirmed positive test result reported on Monday 29 November 2021. Between 23 November 2021 and 29 November 2021, 1,548 people had a confirmed positive test result. This shows a decrease of -4.8% compared to the previous 7 days. Free, rapid result tests are at Macclesfield Conservative Club on West Bank Road are available today. Omicron is expected to be fought with a mixture of mask-wearing and vaccination. The UK will aim for 500,000 jabs a day in bid to outpace Omicron variant. Booster jabs will also be offered to every adult, a move already planned pre-Omicron. Of the ten wards in Macclesfield, at least 76.7% of people per ward have been double-vaccinated over the age of 12, as of 28 November 2021. The lowest figures, mentioned in the previous sentence, is Central Macclesfield, which has the highest concentration of young people. 291,355 people in Cheshire East had been given a second dose by the end of 28 November 2021. 2019 estimates suggest there are 380,694 residents in Cheshire East, meaning just 99,000 residents have not had both jabs, a great chunk of them being children. Across East Cheshire NHS Trust, one person with coronavirus went into hospital on 21 November 2021. Between 15 November 2021 and 21 November 2021, 17 went into hospital with coronavirus. This shows a decrease of -22.7% compared to the previous 7 days. There were 15 patients in hospital with coronavirus on 23 November 2021. Some people in the hospital need to use a special device called a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe. There were two coronavirus patients in hospital beds with a mechanical ventilator on 23 November 2021. In good news, there were no deaths within 28 days of a positive test for coronavirus reported on 29 November 2021. This was one day after the UK's first Omicron case was confirmed. Deaths are down, but no cases of the Omicron variant have currently been confirmed in Cheshire, and there is no evidence on whether the variant is more deadly yet, so the statements cannot be thought to be connected. Between 23 November 2021 and 29 November 2021, there have been five deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. This shows a decrease of -61.5% compared to the previous seven days, a marked improvement since an increase in the previous seven days. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones. For data protection reasons, it is not known if any of the hospitalised or the dead went to Victoria Road's Macclesfield District General Hospital. Are you concerned about the Omicron variant? Or are you a business worried about your Christmas? Get in touch via the contact form on our website, or join the conversation on social media. See also: Macclesfield: 'Significant rise' in anti-vaxx leaflets across Cheshire East. Macclesfield: Have you signed up for our Friday weekly newsletter containing each week's top 10 Macclesfield news stories, and one FREE exclusive article? 930 of you have signed up already. Simply enter your email address into the shaded box below. Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Macclesfield Nub News is a quality online newspaper which produces 25-30 stories a week for our town. As well as Twitter, you can also find us on Facebook.