New Delhi: COVID-19 wreaked havoc for over 4 years across the world. Now after battling the virus for so long the world is preparing for the next wave that may strike this summer, as per anticipations. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that a new wave of COVID-19 is emerging in the United States and Britain, as both countries report a fresh surge in cases and people have been advised to wear face masks. However, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared to be over in May 2023.
As per reports, the vulnerable population in the UK are the ones who are above 60 years and toddlers, or the ones who are suffering from chronic diseases. To combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the administrations have ramped up the vaccination processes and health officials are closely monitoring the rise in cases, especially a new variant called LB.1.
Additionally, one in every 25,000 British population suffered COVID-19 till June 26, as per the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). However, the number is relatively lower than in March 2020, when the pandemic first hit the UK, one in every 13 people got infected with the virus.
Which is the variant behind the new wave?
Recently, the new variant called the ‘FLiRT’ variant of COVID-19 was a dominant strain in the US. FLiRT variant is a group of new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These strains include variants starting with ‘KP’ or ‘JN’ that have acquired similar mutations. FLiRT variants and the sub-variants of Omicron now result in over 60 per cent of coronavirus cases in the United States.
As per earlier reports, these variants made up only 5 per cent of the cases in the month of March.
KP.2 and KP.3 are the fresh Covid strains which is leading to the rise in new cases in the UK and the US. As per reports, hospital admissions rose by 24 per cent in the week to Sunday, from 2.67 people per 100,000 to 3.31 per 100,000 as per the new data released by the UKHSA.
Common symptoms to watch out for
The symptoms of COVID-19 remain almost the same, including:
Fever
Cough
Breathlessness
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Body pain
Headaches
Loss of taste
Loss of smell
Sore throat
In severe cases, people may also experience respiratory problems
Loose motions
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that a new wave of COVID-19 is emerging in the United States and Britain, as both countries report a fresh surge in cases and people have been advised to wear face masks. What is the new COVID-19 variant behind the spike in cases? Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
