Top UK scientists have warned that the country will see a new wave of infections this month. Speaking during a briefing by the Independent Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage), Professor Christina Pagel said: “The new wave begins now.” He added: “We will have a new wave of infections this month. Now hopefully it will not be as high as the previous two waves and may be lower. “But we can not rely on that and we will see more people get infected anyway.” It comes as Covid-19 infections in the UK have risen for the first time in two months, new data reveal. The jump is most likely caused by increases in cases compatible with the original Omicron variant BA.1 and the newer variants BA.4 and BA.5, according to the National Statistical Office (ONS). A total of 989,800 people in private households were estimated to have contracted the virus last week, up from 953,900 last week.
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Government plan to burn PPE “costly for the environment and the fund”
The government’s plans to burn 4 4 billion worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) for energy production have been criticized by lawmakers as potentially costly – both financially and for the environment. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSC) lost 75% of the 12 12 billion it spent on PPP in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic due to inflated prices and defective kits. That included a value of 4 4 billion that could not be used because it did not meet NHS standards. DHSC disputed this, saying that not all unusable PPE would be burned and much of it would be used in other settings or recycled. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 15:55 1654872154
China calls COVID “laboratory leakage” theory a lie after WHO report
China has attacked the theory that the coronavirus pandemic may have been caused by a leak from a Chinese laboratory as a politically motivated lie, as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended in its strongest terms that deeper research be needed into whether a laboratory accident could be blamed. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also denied allegations that China had not fully cooperated with the researchers, saying it welcomed a science-based investigation but rejected any political manipulation. He also reiterated calls for research into “highly suspicious laboratories such as Fort Detrick and the University of North Carolina” in the United States, where China has suggested, without evidence, that the United States has developed the coronavirus as a biological weapon. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 15:42 1654871314
Ireland: Patient hospitals almost double in fortnight
The Irish Minister for Health has warned of an increase in Covid-19 cases as the number of hospitalized patients almost doubled in less than a fortnight. Stephen Donnelly said he had shot more than 300 patients with Covid-19 from about 160 a week and a half ago. The data of the Ministry of Health show a vertical increase from the end of May. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar warned that it could be the beginning of a “summer wave” for Covid, while Mr Donnelly said they were closely monitoring the situation. “What we are seeing is a very significant increase in a very short period of time. “What worries me is that when you look at previous standards of care, they have risen very, very quickly,” Mr Donnelly said on Friday. “Now fortunately, because of the vaccine program, and because so many people participated, even in the Omicron wave, the numbers in the intensive care unit and the numbers that really got sick, a lot, and the mortality rates happily remained low. “However, we still have too many patients with Covid in hospitals and this leads to the cancellation of optional care, which has a huge impact on patients who do not have Covid. “As you know, dealing with waiting lists is now a top priority. “So my advice is that while mortality and serious illness rates are likely to remain low if we look at another significant increase in hospitalizations, this of course has an impact on our waiting list efforts and selective care.” Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 15:28 1654870414
Biden removes Covid test for international travelers to US
US President Joe Biden has lifted the pre-departure requirement for Covid-19 tests for international travelers to the US from Sunday. Maryam Zakir-Hussain10 June 2022 15:13 1654869514
Positive cases increase for the 35-49 age group
According to the ONS, the percentage of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK is estimated to have increased among people aged 35 to 49, with early signs of an increase among those aged 12 to 2. The trend in recent weeks has been “uncertain” in all other age groups. Among the regions of England, contamination levels are estimated to have risen in the north-west, London and south-east, with early signs of rising in the east of England. Levels have fallen in the southwest and west Midlands, while the trend in all other areas was uncertain. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 14:58 1654868628
Covid: British scientists warn that the country is in a new wave
Top UK scientists have warned that the country will see a new wave of infections this month. Speaking during a briefing by the Independent Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies, Professor Christina Pagel said: “We will have a new wave of infections this month. Now hopefully it will not be as high as the previous two waves and may be lower. “But we can not rely on that and we will see more people get infected anyway.” Health correspondent Rebecca Thomas has more: Maryam Zakir-Hussain10 June 2022 14:43 1654867774
Sadness for the disappearing face mask
A strong issue of the Independent SAGE live broadcast today was the lack of mask use indoors, especially in hospitals and public transport. A cancer patient asked the committee how she could protect herself by being immunosuppressed when other patients were not wearing masks. The committee expressed frustration with the lack of urgency to use a face mask in hospitals. Professor Susan Michie, a clinical psychologist, suggested that hospital trusts launch a “Clean Your Air” campaign, reflecting the 2009 “Clean Your Hands” campaign, which aims to improve hand hygiene in healthcare settings. Dr. Stephen Griffin, an associate professor in medical school at the University of Leeds, advised immunocompromised patients to wear a tight-fitting FFP2 mask that fits better and offers more protection. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 14:29 1654866934
Nine Omicron Symptoms Affecting Fully Vaccinated – Signs You May Have It
China has imposed new strict quarantine measures in Shanghai as the country intensifies its efforts to prevent a new round of coronavirus infections after returning to a two-year high in May. The Asian superpower has taken some of the most drastic measures since the pandemic began in recent weeks, although its workload is low compared to other major countries because it is tied to an incompatible “zero Covid” strategy. The latest increase in cases is believed to be due to Omicron, which is referred to as the dominant variant. Here, we take a look at some of the most common variant-related symptoms for the fully vaccinated – and two early warning signs you may have it. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 14:15 1654866154
Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 will be predominant in the United Kingdom
During the Independent Sage show, Professor Christina Pagel warned that the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants would become the dominant executives in the UK. Here’s what the professor said about these new variations:
There is a similar antibody response in amplified individuals to BA.1 and BA.2, however, most people received their booster several months ago. Delta infection gave minimal protection against any Omicron variant. BA.2 infection provided good protection against BA.4 and BA.5. Booster with BA.1 or BA.2 gave the highest protection against BA.4 and BA.5.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 14:02 1654865434
Shanghai and Beijing hit with new lockdown and mass tests as Xi Jinping says “persistence is victory”
China’s trading hub, Shanghai, and the national capital, Beijing, were hit by new lockdowns and new rounds of mass testing on Friday, just days after exhausting restrictions were lifted. In a desperate attempt to control a wider outbreak following the discovery of certain cases of transmission to the community and a cluster, Shanghai authorities have imposed a blockade on hundreds of thousands of people in five areas, writes Shweta Sharma. Maryam Zakir-Hussain 10 June 2022 13:50
