Experts have shed light on the puzzling spike in sickness this summer across the UK. They believe the dip in Covid jab uptake and a milder Covid season last winter could be to blame for falling immunity levels, leading to the current wave of illness.The recent weeks in the UK have witnessed a troubling increase in Covid cases, along with a rise in hospitalisations and deaths.
Figures from the Health Security Agency signal a surge in positive Covid-19 tests, leaping from 4% at the end of March to 14% by the close of June, only to escalate further to 17% by July 10.Echoing these concerns, Dr Allen Haddrell, a research fellow at Bristol University, spoke to the Mirror about various factors contributing to the viruss spread, including school holidays, festival season, and notably the Euros.
Dr Haddrell pointed out: "There's been some discussion about the Euros, which saw people meeting inside pubs and bars for prolonged periods of time, typically shouting and screaming.
These are potential places where you'd get higher rates of transmission. There's also school going off term. Any time you're seeing changes in population dynamics, it can impact the rates of illness."Dr Haddrell has pointed to air conditioning units as a possible catalyst for increased Covid transmission in offices, stating: "In offices, people use air conditioning, because having a window open might not cool the area down very much.