COVID-19 remains high in UK as BA.2 gains ground

An ongoing swab testing study that's been under way for the last 2 years to monitor COVID-19 spread in the United Kingdom revealed that, although cases are declining, they remain at a high level, with signs of a potential increase in older age-groups.In US developments, lawmakers scrambled to find funding for COVID-19 activities amid a drop in cases.Signs of rising levels in older BritsThe UK REACT study, done by a research team based at Imperial College London, has been tracking disease levels with swab tests.Public health officials have urged countries to continue population monitoring for COVID-19 to assess who is getting infected and where the virus is spreading.

Also, health officials closely watch patterns in Britain and other European countries, because their COVID-19 trends have been a harbinger of how outbreaks could unfold elsewhere, including in the United States.For the latest study, the group analyzed the results of nearly 95,000 swab tests that were conducted across the country from Feb 8 to Mar 1.Since the last report that covered roughly January, prevalence of COVID-19 dropped from 4.41% to 2.88%.

The researchers noted, however, that, at 2.88%, prevalence is still high—at the second highest level since the study began in Mar 2020.Their analysis of genetic sequences from 1,195 samples showed that all but 1 was the Omicron variant, and, as of Feb 21, they estimate that nearly half (47.2%) were the BA.2 subvariant, which is more transmissible than the parent Omicron virus.

In their last report, released in late January, they found that only six sequences were BA.2.Infection rates varied by age and region, and the team noted that levels were flat or possibly rising in people ages 55 and older.