The number of Covid cases in Britain is still worryingly high as we enter winter. The nation's vaccination program appears to be in limbo.
Leading epidemiologists have expressed this grim view, warning that the UK may still be suffering from the worst effects of the pandemic. With the colder weather, people will be more likely to go out to bars, restaurants and cinemas than to parks and gardens, which means that Covid-19 transmission rates are likely to increase.
Employees are encouraged to return to work, which can also increase the risk of infection. New Covid cases are currently being reported at an average rate of 35,000 per day. However, Britain's vaccination program has kept hospitalisations below the 7,000 mark with less than 200 deaths every day. These numbers have remained relatively stable over the past few weeks.
Importantly, most people in hospitals with severe Covid are not vaccinated. Professor Mark Woolhouse from Edinburgh University said that it is important to continue giving jabs to as many people possible. We must complete the job and give as many jabs as possible. Our vaccination program has been stalled. Rates are consistently falling below 100,000 doses per day, which is lower than many other countries including many in Europe. I am afraid we are now in trouble for the future.
Professor Martin Hibberd of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine supported this point. Winter is when respiratory diseases are more common. We need as many vaccines as we can to prevent this from becoming a problem. There has been no indication that schools have started vaccination programs, which is a missed opportunity. It is imperative that we vaccinate all pupils before November. However, not much seems to be happening. This is something to be concerned about.
Yesterday's figures from NHS North East London highlighted the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates. A spokesperson said that in August and July in north-east London, more than 200 people were in intensive care with Covid. More than 90% of them were not fully vaccinated.
Woolhouse said that people are still restricting the number of contact they have with other people. These contacts are about two-thirds of the number they had before the pandemic, which is helping to reduce viral transmission rates. As we return to normality more often, these contacts will be at higher levels, which will increase the chances of the virus being transmitted.
It is unlikely that some of the worst forecasts made this summer regarding the course of the pandemic in autumn and winter will come true. There are reasons to be optimistic. But, I'd be more content if the case numbers started to fall in the near future.
There is also the possibility that a new Covid-19 virus strain could emerge in the coming months. It is more transmissible and is more likely to be able to bypass vaccine protection. Hibberd said that it is possible.
However, I have been anticipating a strain that is worse than the Delta variant for some time but it hasn't happened. This could mean that the Covid-19 virus is constructed so it can't change any more than it has. It is evident that there could be a new, serious variant of the Covid-19 virus. We need to be alert and vigilant to identify it as soon as possible.
