The Covid-19 pandemic has not disappeared, British experts warn, in the context of the alarming increase in infections and hospitalizations. New variants of the virus, collectively called FLiRT, are responsible for the increase, according to a recent report by the United Kingdom’s Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), cited by The Independent.
Covid-19 has not disappeared, British experts warn – Photo Shutterstock
Recently, there was a 24% increase in hospital admissions due to Covid-19, reaching 3.31 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 2.67 per 100,000 in the previous week. According to the UKHSA, 2,053 cases of Covid-19 were reported in the week to 12 June, a 7% increase on the previous week. Most of those affected are elderly.
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, warns that these figures should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
“The virus has not gone away and it is certainly not a seasonal infection. A combination of new, more infectious virus variants and declining immunity are likely contributing to these increased levels of infection. The hope is that this will not lead to a large wave of infection, but we have to be very careful.”he told iNews.
Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the effectiveness of anti-Covid-19 vaccines
The FLiRT variant, named after mutations in the genetic code of the virus, has become a major concern. Three strands of this variant, KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3, are responsible for 40% of all Covid-19 cases in the UK as of April 2024.
Health authorities continue to closely monitor new variants both nationally and internationally, assessing their severity and the continued effectiveness of vaccines. It is essential that the public remain vigilant and follow public health recommendations to prevent a new wave of infections.
Covid-19 in Romania
In our country, the Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that, in the week of June 10-16, 276 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections were registered, of which 103 cases are reinfections. So far, the total number of registered cases is 3,531,540. The incidence at 14 days is 0.02.
In the same period, 16 people were reconfirmed positive in the retest. 582 RT-PCR tests and 5,869 rapid antigen tests were performed.
Currently, 35 patients with COVID-19 are hospitalized, three of them at ATI. INSP reported two deaths between June 10-16. It is about a child aged 0-9 years and a man over 80 years old, both having comorbidities and being unvaccinated.
