UK braced for 'worrying' Covid wave this summer as people warned 'don't meet up'

James Rodger

2 July 2024 at 6:55 am·2-min read

The UK is bracing for a "worrying" Covid surge this summer, with experts particularly concerned about the impact on the over-85s. A new variant, dubbed FliRT - Fresh Lineage of Rapid Transmission - is expected to cause a spike in hospitalisations among this age group.

Prof Steve Griffin from Leeds University has expressed concern: "This is clearly early days, but it certainly looks as though yet another Covid wave is building. If the rise in hospitalisations continues, this is obviously worrying."

Meanwhile, Prof Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia offered a stark perspective: "To be honest, you can't really avoid it because it's so common. We are all of us going to get repeated Covid infections from birth through to death."

He also noted a decline in the severity of the disease: "Generally what we've seen is that over the last three years, four years, the severity of illness associated with Covid has gone down a lot. Ultimately, it's going to become another cause of the common cold and, for many people, that's what it is now."

Hospital admissions have risen to 3.31 per 100,000 people as of the week ending 16 June, up from 2.67 per 100,000 the previous week, with those aged 85 and above being the most hospitalised group. The Government advises those who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with others for five days, reports Birmingham Live.

In order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, individuals are advised against contact with people likely to suffer serious illness, such as elderly people or those with weakened immune systems. "If you are showing symptoms of Covid-19 or flu, help protect others by staying at home and avoiding contact with other people, especially those who are more vulnerable," said Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

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