Sunday 2 October 2022 10:48 PM Experts warn the UK is ALREADY at the start of a 'devastating' Covid wave trends now

Sunday 2 October 2022 10:48 PM Experts warn the UK is ALREADY at the start of a 'devastating' Covid wave trends now
Sunday 2 October 2022 10:48 PM Experts warn the UK is ALREADY at the start of a 'devastating' Covid wave trends now

Sunday 2 October 2022 10:48 PM Experts warn the UK is ALREADY at the start of a 'devastating' Covid wave trends now

Experts have warned the UK is already at the start of a 'devastating' new Covid-19 wave that could cripple the NHS this winter. 

Early data revealed that new subvariants of Omicron are 'evolving around the immunity' that was built up through vaccinations and Covid infections.

Experts allege the new immune-evasive variants may cause 'real problems' for the 'already on its knees' NHS as the cold weather approaches.

The stark warning comes as the UK's autumn Covid wave saw cases rise 14 per cent, according to the latest figures which cover data for the week ending September 17.

Approximately 1.1million people tested positive for the virus in the latest survey, marking the first sustained rise since mid-July, when the summer wave peaked and ministers faced calls to bring back pandemic-era restrictions.  

Officials allege a drop in testing and the inadequate surveillance of new immune-evasive subvariants has created the 'perfect storm' for another Covid spike.

Experts have warned the UK is already at the start of a 'devastating' new Covid-19 wave that could cripple the NHS this winter. The latest Office for National Statistics data shows Covid infections in England jumped by more than a tenth to 857,400 in the week to September 20

Experts have warned the UK is already at the start of a 'devastating' new Covid-19 wave that could cripple the NHS this winter. The latest Office for National Statistics data shows Covid infections in England jumped by more than a tenth to 857,400 in the week to September 20

Covid experts say the immune-evasive variants of the virus are already 'starting to cause a slight increase in infections.'

'It looks like we're in the start of the next wave and this time it's affected older people slightly earlier than the last wave,' Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the Covid ZOE app, told The Independent.

He explained that symptoms are also presenting themselves slightly differently than in prior variants, meaning many infected individuals aren't seeking Covid tests. 

'Many people are still using the government guidelines about symptoms which are wrong,' Prof Spector argued.

'At the moment, Covid starts in two-thirds of people with a sore throat. Fever and loss of smell are really rare now – so many old people may not think they've got Covid. They'd say it's a cold and not be tested.'

'We've really taken our eye off the ball with Covid tests,' echoed University of Warwick virologist Professor Lawrence Young. 'We can only detect variants or know what's coming by doing sequencing from PCR testing, and that's not going on anywhere near the extent it was a year ago.

'People are going to get various infections over the winter but won't know what they are because free tests aren't available – it's going to be a problem. 

'Another angle is the economic pressure. If people do feel poorly they're not likely to take time off work. You have a perfect storm here, really, of inadequate surveillance, people not coming forward for vaccination and the economic situation.'

Covid hospitalisation data shows 7,024 infected patients were taking up hospital beds by 8am on Wednesday — up 37 per cent in a week and the highest figure in more than two months. Patient numbers had been falling since mid-July from a peak of 14,000, which was triggered by the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5. But this decline came to a halt in mid-September

Covid hospitalisation data shows 7,024 infected patients were taking up hospital beds by 8am on Wednesday — up 37 per cent in a week and the highest figure in more than two months. Patient numbers had been falling since mid-July from a peak of 14,000, which was triggered by the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5. But this decline came to a halt in mid-September

The graph shows the total number of Covid patients in England's hospitals per day, divided into those who were admitted because they were unwell from Covid (blue line) and those given a bed for another ailment — and just happened to test positive (pink line)

The graph shows the total number of Covid patients in England's hospitals per day, divided into those who were admitted because they were unwell from Covid (blue line) and those given a bed for another ailment — and just happened to test positive (pink line)

Health experts have also found that the newer variants of Omicron – BA.2.75.2 derived from BA.2, and BQ1.1 derived from BA.5 – have been able to escape the immune system.

'What's interesting about these variants is that although they're slightly different in how they've come about they've come up with the same changes to get around the body's immune system,' Prof Young told the newspaper.

'What we're finding is the virus is evolving around the immunity that's been built up through vaccines and countless infections people have had.'

Professor Tim Spector (pictured), co-founder of the Covid ZOE app,  alleged the new immune-evasive variants may cause 'real problems' for the 'already on its knees' NHS as winter approaches

Professor Tim Spector (pictured), co-founder of the Covid ZOE app,  alleged the new immune-evasive variants may cause 'real problems' for the 'already on its knees' NHS as winter approaches

He added: 'The biggest concern we're seeing is that in early data these variants are starting to cause a slight increase in infections. 

'In a way, this was to be expected but it does demonstrate that we're not out of the woods yet at all with this virus, sadly.'

Both professors have called on the government to make 'stronger and proactive messaging' ahead of the looming winter.

Prof Young, repeating calls made by public health experts, urged people to get their booster jabs,

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