The surge is considered to be caused by diminishing immunity and a novel set of Covid variants collectively known as FLiRT. Experts warn that COVID-19 “hasn’t gone away” following an increase in infections and hospitalizations due to new viral strains.
FLiRT refers to a collection of Covid mutations that have recently appeared. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Covid hospital admissions jumped by 24% in the week to Sunday, to 3.31 per 100,000 persons, up from 2.67 the previous week.
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, said the results should serve as a “wake-up call” to individuals who believe the virus has disappeared. “The virus hasn’t gone away and is certainly not a seasonal infection,” he told the i. “A combination of novel, more virulent virus types and declining immunity is most likely contributing to the higher levels of infection. The hope is that this will not lead to a large wave of infection, but we must be vigilant.”
Separate numbers from the UKHSA reveal that 2,053 cases of Covid were reported in the week ending June 12. This was an increase of 148 instances, or 7%, over the previous seven-day period.
Hospitalization rates were highest among persons aged 85 and up. Covid ICU admissions were “very low” but climbed marginally to 0.12 per 100,000. The agency stated that the word FLiRT was inspired by the names of the mutations in the variants’ genetic coding, which stem from JN.1 with variant BA.2.86 as a parent.
According to the UKHSA, three FLiRT variant strings, KP.1.1, KP.2, and KP.3, accounted for 40% of all Covid cases in the UK in April of this year. KP.2 caused a jump in cases this spring, and KP.3 appears to be fueling the start of a summer surge.
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