According to official government figures, 109,908 people tested positive for the virus in England in the seven days to June 24 – an increase of 37 per cent last week. However, the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, as the government only monitors positive tests recorded on its website and the provision of free tests has now expired. The Zoe Covid study, which collects data throughout the pandemic, says there are currently around 285,000 new infections across the UK every day. It is estimated that approximately 3.1 million people currently have symptomatic Covid-19. Daily symptomatic infections have increased by 150 percent this month and according to Zoe data are at their highest level for all but three weeks of the pandemic. Tim Spector, a professor at King’s College London who runs the app, told i that he expects cases to rise to “just under” 300,000 a day by the weekend and could well continue to rise next week – if and said he could not be sure. The increase in cases is due to Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, which have overturned BA.2 as the dominant strain in the UK. Here’s what you need to know about them.
What are the symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5?
There is currently no evidence to suggest that BA.4 and BA.5 cause different symptoms than previous Covid strains. The NHS reports the following as recognized symptoms of Covid-19:
High temperature or chills – high temperature means you feel hot when you touch your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) New, persistent cough – this means a lot of coughing for more than an hour or three or more episodes of coughing in 24 hours Loss or change in the sense of smell or taste Breathing difficulty Feeling tired or exhausted It hurts body Headache Sore throat Clogged or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhea Feeling unwell or sick
What is different about these variants?
BA.4 and BA.5 were first identified in South Africa in January and February 2022. They are both subtypes of Omicron, but have mutations that give them significant differences from BA.1 and BA.2, which have caused earlier waves of infections. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says that BA.4 and BA.5 both contain the amino acid substitutions L452R, F486V and R493Q in the pin receptor binding domain, which is not the case in the previous strains. These changes give the variants a growth advantage over BA.1 and BA.2, which was the former dominant strain in the United Kingdom. “Preliminary studies suggest a significant change in the antigenic properties of BA.4 and BA.5 compared to BA.1 and BA.2,” says the ECDC.
Are these variants more dangerous?
Scientists have discovered that these variants are more contagious and better at avoiding immunity than previous strains. However, “there is currently no evidence” that BA.4 and BA.5 cause more serious illness, the UK Health Insurance Agency said. The latest UKHSA analysis suggests that BA.5 is growing 35.1 percent faster than BA.2, while BA.4 is growing about 19.1 percent faster. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant variant of Covid-19 in the UK, he says. Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA, said: “It is clear that the increasing prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 is significantly increasing the number of cases we have observed in recent weeks. We have seen an increase in hospital admissions due to community infections, but vaccinations continue to keep ICU admissions and deaths low. “As the prevalence increases, it is more important than ever that we all remain vigilant, take precautions and ensure that we are aware of the Covid-19 vaccines, which remain the best form of protection against the virus. “It’s not too late to make up for the difference if you miss out on souvenirs or even the first doses, so get the recommended vaccines.” Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, said the recent rise in cases was worrying and “shows that there is no room for complacency about Covid”. However, he added: “The good news is that where other countries have experienced significant B.4 and BA.5 waves, namely Portugal and South Africa, these waves have now peaked without a significant increase in severe disease, mainly due to vaccination in these populations. “The hope is that this will be similar here and that we have reached the peak of infections.”
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Will the vaccines against BA.4 and BA.5 work?
A study in the United Kingdom suggests that vaccines provide similar protection for BA.1, BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5. He also found that a previous BA.2 infection provided better protection against re-infection with BA.4 and BA.5 than a previous BA.1 infection, although in both cases this protection is weak. This means that people who have had Covid in recent months will be better protected than those who have had it in the weeks before or after Christmas – both because they are more likely to have BA.2 and because their immunity is lower. The UKHSA said: “So far, vaccination means that an increase in cases does not translate into an increase in serious illness and death. “UKHSA scientists are urging anyone who has not had all the vaccines they are eligible for to make sure they get them as soon as possible.”
