Covid infections up after Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Covid infections are up across the UK, according to latest figures that capture the Jubilee weekend of partying. An estimated 1.4 million people or one in 45 has the virus – up from one in 65 the week before. That’s a rise of 43%. Experts say two new fast-spreading subvariants of Omicron -called BA.4 and BA.5 – are behind some of the new infections. People can get catch them ev en if they have recently had other types of Covid. The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which compiles the data, says it is too early to say if this is the start of another wave.
Millions gathered to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee up and down the UK between 2 and 5 June, which will have given Covid many opportunities to spread. It takes a few days, usually, for people to start showing symptoms or testing positive after catching it, which means the latest data covers some of that Jubilee mixing. The previous week’s data had shown the beginnings of a possible rise.(BBC)…[+]