Why are cases rising, and should we fear this new mutation?

Q

Why are Covid cases on the rise again?

AOn Friday, data published by the Office for National Statistics showed that one Briton in 20 has Covid.

This prevalence matches that in December last year, when the Government was so worried about soaring infections that it brought back mask-wearing and introduced vaccine passports.

Some experts argue that the rise is proof the UK scrapped Covid measures too quickly. They say that the end of mandatory self-isolation for infected people is to blame. But similar rises are being seen across Europe – in Germany, France and Greece – despite restrictions including isolation remaining in place.

What these countries have in common is the rising presence of a new variant, called BA.2 – a mutation of the Omicron variant.

Studies suggest that BA.2 is roughly 50 per cent more infectious than Omicron, which was already highly transmissible.

Professor Adrian Esterman, a former World Health Organisation epidemiologist, said: ‘We’re going to see case numbers skyrocketing.’

Ultimately, both the advent of the variant and changes in behaviour are responsible for the rise in cases.