According to one study, COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom have halved in recent months, but concerns remain about the threat of new variants.
New data suggest that the prevalence of infectious diseases decreased by 50% from March to early May, the lowest since August.
But the numbers are in the midst of a warning from Boris Johnson that the new variant “has a potentially deadly danger.”
The British Prime Minister said there was “increasing concern” in the UK about the first variant identified in India.
However, the European Medicines Agency said Wednesday that it was “quite confident” that the vaccine currently in use would be effective against Indian variants. This is a recurring view by some British scientists.
Professor Paul Elliott, director of the React program at Imperial College London, cited an Indian variant when asked if the latest data in the study would support the transition to the next stage of relaxing blockade restrictions.
He states: “We have a low prevalence in the community and low levels of illness in hospitals and fatalities, so it’s a difficult question. That’s a good thing.
“But I think the Indian variant pattern is the cause of some concerns.”
He added that further research is needed to really understand the characteristics and spread of Indian variants that appear to be at least as contagious as the Kent variants.
Source: PA graphics
A React study examined coronavirus variants, identifying 24 of the 115 positive swabs as Kent variants, and two of London’s three variants of Indian concern. Identified.
Experts said neither participant had gone abroad in the last two weeks.
Emergency meeting
The Emergency Science Advisory Group (Sage) will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the epidemic of Indian variants, fearing that the blockade could affect the government roadmap. It has been reported.
Overall, between the final round of the React study, which examined data in March, and the current round, which examined data from April to early May, swab positive rates increased from 0.20% to 0.10% in the United Kingdom. % Decreased.
Experts estimate the corresponding R number to be 0.90.
The data includes 127,408 swab tests conducted throughout the United Kingdom between April 15th and May 3rd.
Researchers found that there was a decrease in all age groups except 25-34 years, with a “significant” decrease in 55-64 years.
Professor Elliott, director of the React program, said at a press conference: “This is consistent with the deployment of vaccine programs to the younger part of that age group.”
The data also suggest a higher prevalence among participants in the Asian community.
The researchers said the differences between patterns of infection and patterns of hospitalization and mortality suggest that the deployment of mass vaccination is preventing serious consequences.
Source: PA graphics
Steven Riley, a professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London, said: In response to infectious diseases, the number of deaths is delayed.
“And this gap shows how to significantly reduce deaths and increase infections in the population.
“And, in fact, we can see that the difference in hospitalizations is widening well, so there are far fewer hospitalizations and deaths for each infection in the community.”
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Health Minister Matt Hancock said the findings “show the impact of our incredible vaccination deployment on Covid-19 prevalence across the country and of more vulnerable people over the age of 65. It has the lowest prevalence among them. “
Meanwhile, the pandemic bereaved family welcomed Johnson’s announcement that an independent inquiry into the response to the crisis would take place, but said the start date for next spring would be “just too late.”
Joe Goodman, co-founder of the Bereaved Family Group for Justice, who lost his father Stuart to Covid, said: Stakeholders with health professionals and scientists warning of a third wave later this year. “
Number 10 defends the timescale, stating that “this type of inquiry requires a great deal of government time with officials currently working on Covid’s response.”
