LONDON (AP) — The prevalence of COVID-19 within the U.Okay. has reached document ranges, with about 1 in 13 folks estimated to be contaminated with the virus up to now week, in accordance with the newest figures from Britain’s official statistics company.
Some 4.9 million folks had been estimated to have the coronavirus within the week ending March 26, up from 4.3 million recorded within the earlier week, the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics stated Friday. The newest surge is pushed by the extra transmissible omicron variant BA.2, which is the dominant variant throughout the U.Okay.
Hospitalizations and loss of life charges are once more rising, though the variety of folks dying with COVID-19 remains to be comparatively low in contrast with earlier this yr. Nonetheless, the newest estimates recommend that the steep climb in new infections since late February, when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrapped all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England, has continued effectively into March.
The figures got here on the identical day the federal government ended free fast COVID-19 exams for most individuals in England, underneath Johnson’s “residing with COVID” plan. Individuals who would not have well being circumstances that make them extra susceptible to the virus now must pay for exams to seek out out if they’re contaminated.
“The federal government’s ‘residing with COVID’ technique of eradicating any mitigations, isolation, free testing and a substantial slice of our surveillance quantities to nothing greater than ignoring this virus going forwards,” stated Stephen Griffin, affiliate professor on the College of Leeds’ medical faculty.
“Such unchecked prevalence endangers the safety afforded by our vaccines,” he stated. “Our vaccines are glorious, however they don’t seem to be silver bullets and ought to not be left to bear the brunt of COVID in isolation.”
Greater than 67% of individuals 12 years previous and above within the U.Okay. have been vaccinated and had their booster or a 3rd dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Starting Saturday, dad and mom may also guide a low-dose vaccine for kids between 5 to 12 years previous in England.
James Naismith, a biology professor on the College of Oxford, stated he believed that besides for many who are utterly shielded or not inclined to the virus, most individuals within the nation would doubtless be contaminated with the BA.2 variant by the summer season.
“That is actually residing with the virus by being contaminated with it,” he stated.
