Covid-19 cases are rising across the UK, driven by a strain dubbed ‘American Covid’, with new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showing a sharp increase in positive hospital tests and admissions.
The UKHSA confirmed that the rate of positive Covid-19 tests in hospitals increased from 5.9% to 7.0% in September, while the hospital admission rate jumped by 50%.
London records highest increase
London saw the highest rate of Covid, with cases up by 79%, according to the figures. More than half of these positive tests were identified as ‘American Covid’, a variant of XFG. The World Health Organisation has classified it as a mix of earlier variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2.
Covid-19 hospitalisations peaked in January 2021, with more than 30,000 people in hospital at one point, according to the UKHSA’s data dashboard. Vaccination campaigns have continued each autumn since then to prevent hospitalisations and deaths, but cases are now rising again, and health experts are advising eligible people to take up their Covid jabs when offered.
Experts urge vaccination
Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: “While Covid-19 activity has shown some recent increases, cases remain at low levels in the UK.
“UKHSA is monitoring all the data relating to Covid-19 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular surveillance reports.”
The UKHSA said the most recent Stratus strain has been in circulation for a year, so this winter’s vaccine should be very effective and is specifically designed to protect against it and its variants.
Low levels, but caution advised
Dr Matthew Siggins, lecturer in immunity and infection biology at the University of Surrey, said the rise was not a “reason for alarm” as many people remained immune from previous infection and vaccination.
He said: “There is no evidence that variants currently circulating in the UK are causing more severe disease, however Covid can still cause serious illness in those at greatest risk.”
Under a rule change, people no longer need to take lateral flow tests, but those known to be positive should still stay at home as much as possible and avoid contact with other people for five days, or three days for those under 18. Everyone who tests positive should avoid meeting people with weakened immune systems for 10 days after the day they took the test.
Dr Siggins added: “Covid is increasing, which is not unexpected for this time of year, but remains at a low level. Waning immunity, changes in circulating variants, as well as increased indoor mixing can all contribute to increasing rates of infection.”
