A fresh Covid-19 wave is hitting the UK this summer, with experts pointing fingers at crowded events like music festivals and Euros football screenings as hotspots for virus transmission. The surge is driven by the emergence of new variants named FLiRT and LB. 1 , which are causing an uptick in reports of cold-like symptoms.
Concerns are mounting that these variants may be capable of sidestepping immunity, leading to breakthrough infections even among the vaccinated . According to Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS and private GP at Pall Mall Medical, coronavirus is able to spread rapidly over the summer months. "Increased travel and big events such as festivals often result in crowded settings where the virus can spread more easily, and there is no longer any legal restrictions like wearing masks, social distancing," she said.
Here's the lowdown on the new strains, the signs to watch for, and the level of concern we should have about this summer's infection spike. She explained that it's expected for viruses to spawn new variants, especially during an outbreak, reports the Manchester Evening News . "When lots of people get infected, the virus has more chances to mutate," she said.
"Also, our immune responses from past infections or vaccines can push the virus to evolve." Speaking to the Times, Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, acknowledged the summer wave but stressed that Covid "will never be as serious as it once was". He did caution that the eld.