Brits should brace for another Covid resurgence this winter, health chiefs have said amid an uptick in cases. Oh dear, is this still a thing? Here’s the Mail.
Infections appeared to plateau earlier this month, despite warnings of a fresh wave sparked by the emergence of a new variant nicknamed Pirola. [So, the last scare was yet another false alarm, but here’s another one?]
But surveillance programmes tasked with monitoring the U.K.’s outbreak suggest the trend is on the rise again.
U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses expect “further increases” as the season progresses. [Further increases in respiratory illness during the winter? No way.]
Dr. Mary Ramsay, UKHSA’s Director of Public Health Programmes, added: “This week’s surveillance indicates a slight increase in Covid infection rates.
“As we enter the colder months and people begin to mix more indoors, we expect to see further increases in Covid.”
She claimed this would strike “alongside the usual increases we see in other winter respiratory viruses like flu”.
Dr. Ramsay added: “We are monitoring rates closely and reminding people that when you have respiratory symptoms you should avoid mixing with others, especially those more vulnerable.”
Covid hospitalisations in England are already at a five-month high on the back of the Pirola strain, scientifically called BA.2.86, which spooked ministers into dishing out autumn booster jabs a month early.
However, virus admissions are still far below levels seen during the darkest days of the pandemic.
Fortunately Mail readers seem to be wise to the scaremongering, at least if the top rated comments are anything to go by.
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