Experts have warned that the fifth wave of coronavirus has already begun
(AP)
The number of hospitalizations for Covid-19 in England has increased as experts warn that the fifth wave of the virus has already begun.
About 7,822 patients in England had Covid-19 on June 27, up 37 percent from the previous week, according to NHS data.
This is the highest total for nearly two months, but is still just below the peak of 16,600 patients during the Omicron BA.2 wave.
Professor Tim Spector of the ZOE Covid Symptom Survey said, “We’re in a wave right now,” he said, “targeting a quarter of a million cases a day, it’s already a wave.”
The latest figures show that 1.7 million people tested positive in the United Kingdom, up 23 percent from the previous week.
The researchers believe that the dramatic increase in cases is due to the new sub-variants of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, which have mutated further and thus are able to avoid immunity more.
Key points
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Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s ongoing coverage of the Covid pandemic.
We will have updates throughout the day as cases in the UK increase and experts warn of a fifth wave of infections.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 09:05
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Covid: The UK is already in the “fifth wave”, as experts warn that summer events will see that infections will increase even more
The United Kingdom is battling a fifth wave of Covid as infections increase and major summer events could lead to an increase in cases even more, experts have warned.
Coronavirus cases have risen sharply in recent weeks, with the latest figures showing that 1.7 million people tested positive in the United Kingdom, up 23 percent from the previous week. The increase is due to the latest variants BA.4 and BA.5, sub-variants of Omicron.
There are fears that the return of mass events for the first time since the pandemic – such as Glastonbury over the weekend, the Notting Hill Carnival and the Edinburgh Festival in August – will lead to the continued suspension of Covid.
My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 09:08
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Covid Reinfections: What is the probability of catching a coronavirus again when the cases increase?
More than two years after the first cases in the UK, millions of Britons have caught the virus, and some will have had it repeatedly.
But how likely is re-infection and what protection do vaccines and booster vaccines offer?
Here’s everything you need to know:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 09:10
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China shortens COVID quarantine time for international travelers
China has halved the quarantine time for incoming passengers this morning, significantly easing one of the world’s strictest Covid-19 restrictions.
The quarantine in the centralized establishments has been reduced from 14 to seven days, and the subsequent health monitoring at home has been reduced to three days from seven, the National Health Commission announced.
Recent guidance from health authorities has also eased quarantine requirements for close contacts of people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
In recent months, China has cautiously eased its restrictions on COVID-19 for cross-border travelers, with health officials saying the shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant allows for adjustment of quarantine periods.
The Chinese capital, Beijing, has already reduced the period of quarantine in centralized facilities to 10 days in 14 months.
China last month also lifted some COVID-19 test requirements for people flying from countries such as the United States.
“We believe that today’s announcement will be welcomed by the American business community,” the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said in its official WeChat account.
The quarantine adjustment will make it easier for companies to bring staff to China and for Chinese companies and their executives to visit the United States, AmCham said.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 09:24
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Beijing and Shanghai do not report new local infections with Covid
Beijing and Shanghai said on Tuesday that there were no new local infections with Covid, for the first time both cities were clear at the same time since late February, after months of battling their worst outbreaks.
The final stage for the two cities, reached on Monday, came after their daily cases fell to single digits in the past week, allowing Shanghai to gradually resume dining and Beijing to reopen some leisure venues, including Universal Beijing. Resort.
Shanghai Communist Party chief Li Qiang said on Saturday that authorities had “won the war to protect Shanghai” against the virus.
Walt Disney Co’s Shanghai Disney Resort said Tuesday it will reopen Disneyland’s theme park on June 30; was imprisoned for more than three months.
However, authorities have been adamant that the government’s so-called dynamic zero policy of Covid, which aims to block the spread of seizures when they occur, remains in place.
“Beijing will fight any new outbreaks from the beginning, quickly and decisively cut off their transmission channel,” said Cai Qi, the city’s main Communist Party chief, quoted in a report by the Beijing-backed party.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 09:33
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Covid-19-related deaths are declining slightly
In the United Kingdom, 309 coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the week ending 17 June 2022, which is slightly less than the previous week. This represents about 1 in every 40 deaths (2.5%).
A total of 12,320 deaths have been reported in the UK in the last week, 15.3% above the five-year average.
In England and Wales, the number of deaths during the week to 17 June is above the five-year average in private homes, hospitals and care homes, but slightly lower in other conditions.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 09:40
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Most Covid infectious variants such as Omicron fuels are on the rise in UK cases
Leading scientists in the UK have warned that the country is seeing a new wave of Covid-19 as infections have started to rise thanks to two more variants of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5.
Here we will look at the most infectious variants of Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 10:03
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Covid: Calls for booster injections in UK by autumn as cases continue to rise
Covid amplifiers will be needed in September as cases continue to rise, a government vaccine expert has warned.
Professor Adam Finn, a member of the government’s Joint Committee on Immunizations and Vaccinations, suggested that a fifth blow to the most vulnerable would have to be introduced as immunity to the virus acquired from previous reinforcement campaigns declined.
Professor Finn suggested that September would be a good time to launch a new booster campaign, when the NHS would usually also start introducing flu vaccines.
Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas reports:
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 10:21
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Most students in England had antibodies to COVID-19 until March 2022
Almost all primary and secondary school students in England had detectable levels of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in March 2022.
Corrected data on antibodies from the School Infections Survey for March to April 2022 show that more than 99% of high school students have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, with 64.9% vaccinated and 34.4% not vaccinated. have been vaccinated.
For primary school students, 82.0% had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, based on corrected figures. This consists of 0.4 percent vaccinated and 81.6 percent unvaccinated.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 10:33
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The percentage of people who test positive is increasing across the UK
The percentage of people who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) increased in all countries in the United Kingdom during the week ending 18 June 2022 (17 June for Scotland).
The increase was probably caused by infections with Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.
The approximate percentage of the community population (those not in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutional settings) who have had COVID-19 in the past week is:
- 1,360,600 (1 in 40 people) in England
- 68,500 (1 in 45 people) in Wales
- 59,900 (1 in 30 people) in Northern Ireland
- 250,700 (1 in 20 people) in Scotland
Infections are increasing in most parts of England and in all age groups in England.
Mariam Zakir-Hussein June 28, 2022 10:45
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