October 18, 2023
1 min read

Covid-19 hospitalisations up 24% in one week in UK

The concerning numbers come as the highly mutated Pirola reached over 100 cases in the country, according to the Covid variant tracker GISAID….reports Asian Lite News

Covid-19 hospitalisations have increased by 24 per cent in one week in the UK as new variant BA.2.86, dubbed as Pirola, sweeps across the country.

According to data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) from the last week of September, the number of people testing positive for the virus increased by over 29.4 per cent on the week before, despite a reduced testing infrastructure, reports The Independent.

The concerning numbers come as the highly mutated Pirola reached over 100 cases in the country, according to the Covid variant tracker GISAID.

Pirola is the latest Omicron strain to appear this summer, raising concerns among specialists since it contains 34 additional mutations that could make it easier to avoid immunisations.

As per GISAID, Pirola has so far been detected in 15 countries globally, including France, Japan, Australia and Denmark. According to the report, the number of patients in hospitals has been rising since mid-July in the UK.

In the week up to and including 29 September, 3,819 Covid patients were admitted to hospital, a 24.8 per cent rise over the previous week.

“While this is still very early data and more research is needed before we can be certain, it is encouraging to see an initial indication that BA.2.86 demonstrates similar levels of antibody escape compared to other variants circulating in the UK,” Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor, UKHSA was quoted as saying.

“The available data is too limited to draw conclusions about the severity of the illness it causes, but there is so far no evidence to suggest that it is more likely to make people seriously ill than other Omicron variants in circulation,” she added.

The new strain’s most common symptoms are a runny nose, headache, lethargy, sneezing, and a sore throat.  Three other symptoms that have been regularly reported are — diarrhoea, eye irritation, and rashes.

ALSO READ: Interfaith leaders in UK discuss harmony amid Israel-Hamas conflict

Previous Story

MI5 fears Israel-Gaza war could fuel radicalisation

Next Story

Germany reaffirms solidarity with Israel

Latest from -Top News

Trump-Putin bhai, bhai

The closer Trump and Putin get Britain, France and other Western countries which, since the end of the Second World War, have seen America as an ally, will have to rethink their

Mali embraces solar power for rural areas  

The border village of Karan and its 3,000 people used to go days without electricity. Now, enough power is available around the clock to run small video gaming centers and boost commercial

British exports shine in African infrastructure 

Established 18 years ago, Dints is a London-based project integrator that specialises in connecting buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and funding partners  A significant partnership between UK Export Finance (UKEF) and British firm
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Capillary Technology wins Best Use of Customer Analytics

The Loyalty Awards 2022 covered 20 categories in all and

Saudi makes institutional quarantine must for visitors

The Ministry said that the visitors are those coming from