The Covid epidemic in the UK has been going on for more than two years, and despite successive rounds of vaccinations and booster shots the virus is still prevalent. Nineteen people have it.

The way Covid is evolving continues to surprise scientists. Covid was thought to be a seasonal illness that could be protected against with an annual jab. The last wave came very close to this latest one in the summer. It seems to be finding new ways to get around the immunity of the body. Those who have had multiple jabs are still getting infections.

The vaccine programme has led to a huge reduction in deaths, but there are still significant Covid pressures on the health service. How do we adapt as a society if Covid continues to make us sick in the long run?

Test tubes labelled Covid-19 Omicron variant positive.
Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters

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