Boris Johnson wanted the UK to live “with Covid”. While all restrictions have been lifted across the Channel, the coronavirus is making a comeback. The number of people infected has reached a record according to estimates released on Friday.
Ironically, this is the day when free testing ends. Based on a representative sample of the population, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that 4.9 million people were infected with the virus last week compared to 4.3 million in the first week of the year, which was the previous record in the country of 67 million people.
One in 13 infected
Some 700,000 more people are infected compared to the previous week, according to this study, which is considered more reliable than the daily statistics which depend on whether or not patients want to be tested and communicate the result to the authorities.
The ONS estimates that one in 13 people had the virus in England. The proportion rises to 1 in 12 in Scotland, while the ratio is 1 in 14 in Wales and 1 in 15 in Northern Ireland. Hospitalizations have also increased compared to last week, especially among those over 45.
Propagation of a subvariant
The current rise is attributed to the spread of the Omicron BA.2 subvariant. The United Kingdom is one of the European countries which, in the eyes of the World Health Organization (WHO), have lifted their measures “too abruptly” to combat the spread of the virus.
Scotland will become the last British nation on April 18 to end the obligation to wear a mask. Unlike the last wave in December, authorities are showing no willingness to return to restrictions, with the current surge playing out with relative indifference as the news is dominated by falling purchasing power and the war in Ukraine.
More than 165,000 Covid deaths
Since Friday, with a few exceptions, the English have had to pay to obtain screening tests, which were until then available free of charge in pharmacies or by ordering them from the health service.
Since the start of the pandemic, the United Kingdom, which is among the hardest hit countries, has recorded more than 165,300 deaths from the coronavirus.
Source: 20minutes
