Covid: UK Omicron cases nearly double in a day

The UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) said that if growth rates and doubling times continue at the rate seen over the past two weeks, they expect at least 50 per cent of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases to be similar to the Omicron variant. There will be reasons. In the next two to four weeks.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier said the doubling rate for the variant could be between two and three days as he announced stricter measures for expanded mandatory face masks in indoor settings, work from home guidance and stricter COVID vaccine certification for entry into places Of.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that Omicron is highly contagious and there is emerging laboratory and preliminary clinical evidence to suggest that both vaccine-acquired and naturally acquired immunity against infection for this type is reduced. That’s why it’s absolutely vital that we all do everything we can to help break the chain of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant,” said Dr. Susan Hopkins, UKHSA’s chief medical advisor. could.”

“Vaccination is key to helping us strengthen our defense against getting seriously ill from this new version – please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay,” she said.

The agency said the increases, case distributions and preliminary analyzes seen in both South Africa and the UK are consistent with some loss of immune protection against infection, despite insufficient data to measure vaccine effectiveness or risk of reinfection in the UK . New studies are being conducted to further assess this.

In a related study, early data suggested that the new variant may result in less severe disease than previous waves. However, Tim Spector, lead scientist at the UK’s Zoe app-based COVID study, cautioned against complacency.

“Even with Omicron being more permeable than Delta, early signs, including new reports from Zoe users, show that it is breaking down in vaccinated people, but it is causing mild cold-like symptoms. However, this is not a reason to be relaxed about Omicron,” said Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and co-founder of the Zoe app, which tracks the spread of COVID-19.

“Covid is unpredictable and, even though most may only feel like they have had a cold, there are far greater long-term risks than cold carriers. If the numbers skyrocket, it may not matter what percentage of people are in the hospital. Is recruiting or dying stay low – it’s about the quantity, not the percentage,” he said.

The Zoe Study, whose incidence figures are based on reports from nearly 650,000 weekly contributors, introduced a new feature to the app that allows people to share their Omicron experiences and symptoms.

This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed. Only the title has been changed.