Prepare for a fresh wave of Covid! Health chiefs issue warning amid uptick in cases
Brits should brace for another Covid resurgence this winter, health chiefs said, amid a surge in cases.
Infections appeared to plateau earlier this month despite warnings of a new wave triggered by the emergence of a new variant nicknamed Pirola.
However, surveillance programs monitoring the outbreak in the UK suggest the trend is increasing again.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses expect “further increases” as the season progresses.
Dr. Mary Ramsay, UKHSA director of public health programs, added: “Surveillance this week suggests a slight increase in Covid infection rates.”
The number of Covid cases has skyrocketed since July, reaching highs of over 2,000 in October. Blue bars indicate complete data while gray bars are currently incomplete. The blue line shows the average cases recorded over seven days
CASES: The number of cases is well below the peaks recorded last year, but with free testing massively scaled back, the number of cases currently recorded is likely to be significantly underestimated
“As the colder months begin and people start to mix more indoors, we expect Covid to rise further.”
She claimed this would be “in addition to the usual spikes we see in other winter respiratory viruses such as the flu”.
Dr. Ramsay added: “We are closely monitoring the incidence and reminding people that if they have respiratory symptoms they should avoid contact with others, especially those who are more vulnerable.”
Covid hospital admissions in England have already reached their highest level in five months due to the Pirola strain, scientifically called BA.2.86, which prompted ministers to give booster shots a month early in the autumn.
However, virus infections are still well below levels seen in the darkest days of the pandemic.
Around 3,366 patients with Covid were admitted to hospital in England in the week ending October 6 – the highest number since mid-April.
However, the figure is still well below the 19,405 weekly hospital admissions recorded in England in January 2021, before the life-saving effect of vaccinations began.
And many Covid hospitalizations are accidental – when a person tests positive for the virus without requiring primary medical treatment.
The rollout of vaccines and repeated waves of vaccinations over the past three years have given Britain a wall of immunity, blunting the threat of the virus and making lockdowns a virtual thing of the past.
Although nowhere near the same threat as two years ago, outbreaks can wreak havoc in workplaces, hospitals and classrooms.
Gatwick Airport had to cancel dozens of flights last month due to staff illness, while a secondary school switched back to virtual teaching after teachers fell ill.
An average of 2,257 Covid cases are being recorded in England every day, according to the latest data.
However, with free testing massively scaled back as part of No10’s ‘Living with Covid’ strategy, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
The resurgence of Covid in recent weeks has led to hospitals once again asking both patients and visitors to wear face masks.
Older and immunocompromised Brits are still most at risk. Both are an important part of this year’s Covid booster campaign.
Everyone over 65 and those with health problems that make them more vulnerable to serious illness are encouraged to get a booster vaccination.
HOSPITAL ADMITTIONS: This government graphic shows the number of Brits hospitalized with Covid throughout the pandemic in England. Admission numbers are increasing, but are still well below the highs recorded in 2021
DEATHS: This graph shows the number of Covid deaths recorded since the start of the pandemic, with numbers up slightly compared to earlier in the year but nowhere near the peaks previously recorded
In order to “return to normality,” invitations will not be distributed to millions aged 50 to 64 who were eligible during the pandemic
While virologists have warned that it is still too early to reliably determine the specific symptoms of BA.2.86, its ancestor BA.2 showed some telltale signs. Experts aren’t yet sure whether it behaves like similar Omicron subvariants, but signs to look out for include a runny nose, sore throat and fatigue
The UKHSA said 3.9 million over-65s in England (35.3 per cent) were vaccinated as part of the campaign and took up the offer.
The vaccination is being offered alongside the seasonal flu vaccine to maximize protection for vulnerable Brits against both pathogens over the winter season.
Dr. Ramsay urged eligible Brits to take up the vaccinations when they were offered.
“We urge parents and anyone who is eligible for one or both Covid and flu vaccinations to book with the NHS or through their GP practice today,” she said.
Pirola, like other recently emerged Covid variants, is a spin-off of the Omicron strain.
However, the multitude of mutations, over 30 in total, raised alarm as some experts feared it would be so different that it could virtually circumvent the protection provided by Covid vaccines and that previous infections would lead to a surge in cases.
Concerns led health authorities to accelerate England’s autumn Covid vaccination campaign a month earlier than originally planned.
However, further analysis of the variant found that it is no more likely to cause severe disease than other Omicron spin-off strains.