New surge in COVID-19 cases in the UK

Experts have warned that COVID-19 remains a significant threat following an uptick in infections and hospitalizations attributed to new variants of the virus, Kazinform News Agency reports.

A cluster of COVID-19 mutations, collectively referred to as FLiRT, has recently emerged. According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), COVID-19 hospital admissions increased by 24 percent.

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, emphasised that these figures should serve as a “wake-up call” to those who believe the virus has disappeared.

“The virus hasn’t gone away and is certainly not a seasonal infection. A combination of new, more infectious virus variants and waning immunity is very likely contributing to these increased levels of infection. The hope is that this will not result in a big wave of infection, but we need to keep a close watch,” he said.

Hospitalizations were highest among individuals aged 85 and over. The term FLiRT was inspired by the mutations in the genetic code of the variants.