Early signs that Covid may be rising in parts of the UK

Early signs that Covid may be rising in parts of the UK

Smitha Mundasad - Health reporter, BBC
There are early signs of a possible increase in the number of people testing positive for Covid in England and Northern Ireland, officials from the Office for National Statistics say.
Their report suggests the small rise is likely to be driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron.
Studies show these variants may be able to spread slightly more easily than "older" Omicron variants.
The latest estimates suggest around 990,000 people in the UK have Covid.
That is about 1.5% of the population (roughly one in 65 people) - up from about one in 70 the week before.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covers the week ending 2 June.

'Mixed picture'

While infections have risen in some parts of the UK, the overall trends in Wales and Scotland are uncertain.



The ONS compiles the data by testing thousands of people from UK households at random - whether they have symptoms or not - to estimate how much virus is around.
They provide the most accurate picture of Covid infection since free testing for the public came to an end in England and Scotland.
Some free testing will continue in Wales and Northern Ireland until the end of June.
Sarah Crofts, from ONS, said: "Today's data shows a mixed picture for infection rates across the UK, with small increases in England and Northern Ireland, likely driven by increasing trends in Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
"Infections with Omicron BA.2 remain the most common variant of Covid-19 and continue to decrease across much of the UK."

In the week ending 2 June, ONS estimates suggest:

• In England about one in 70 people had Covid
  

• In Wales about one in 75 people had Covid
  

• In Northern Ireland about one in 65 people had Covid
  

• In Scotland about one in 40 people had Covid
  

Fears of summer wave of Covid-19 played down by expert

Michelle McGlynn - Irish Examiner

Professor Kingston Mills said it is possible that there will be a new wave in the autumn but added that there might be a new version of the vaccine by that stage. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A leading immunologist has played down fears of a summer wave of Covid-19.

It comes after the number of people in hospital who tested positive for the virus rose to 360 yesterday, 23 of whom are in intensive care.

However, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, Kingston Mills, says another major surge of Covid-19 this summer is unlikely.
"It is not inevitable that there will be another wave. There is certainly going to be an increase in the number of cases. It's happening in the UK as well," said Prof Mills.
"It is probably down to the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants which are a further mutation of the Omicron variant but they are quite different, more transmissible, and more likely to evade immunity generated by the vaccines or with previous infection, even with Omicron."

Prof Mills said it is possible that there will be a new wave in the autumn but added that there might be a new version of the vaccine by that stage.
Those over the age of 65 may be offered a second booster jab in the autumn.

Some companies have made new versions of the vaccine which are designed to protect against Omicron.
"I know it has moved on since Omicron with the newer variants but it is closer to what is circulating right now.
"Moderna published some data during the week showing that they get a better response against the circulating strains when they use the Omicron strain in the vaccine."

Read More: Another pandemic is 'inevitable' and 'could wipe out humanity,' warns Trinity professor

Spotted a red half moon on your nail? Could be a sign of Covid-19.

Read here to know more:
Sayantani Biswas - Mint

Several research studies have worked on the effect of Covid nails and have come out with surprising facts on how Covid affects the finger and toe nails.

The wrath of coronavirus is not over yet. Cases have started surging in several states of India, as mass gathering and lack of Covid Appropriate Behaviour continues.

As the virus continues to mutate and affecting people, so does the symptoms noted in patients. 
Common respiratory signs like those of common cold, flu have been widely discussed and documented. A recent report has revealed  three studies reporting diabetic patients being four times more susceptible to developing Covid than others.

In several places doctors have also noted cases of Brain Fog due to Coronavirus infection. Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity.

Covid might seem like a respiratory disease at the initial stage, but it might affect our body more severely. In these two-and-a-half-year, we realised that the virus can affect our lungs, heart, kidney, digestive system and even our brain.

The virus is known to worsen the condition of the organ through which it enters the body.

There are also several signs and symptoms of coronavirus infection that are uncommon- like nails. Patients have tended to ignore these telltale signs and have suffered later.

 Listen to this article

Several research studies have worked on the effect of Covid nails and have come out with surprising facts on how Covid affects the finger and toe nails. Study says up to 20% of patients with Covid have cutaneous manifestations.

Following a Covid infection or even during it abnormalities in the nails is seen in many individuals.
61 research studies have confirmed chilblain‐like lesions on nails following Covid infection. Chilblains may be idiopathic or secondary to rheumatological conditions, malignancy or other diseases including viral infections.

Several other studies have found white horizontal nail striae and sunken nails clinically defined as leukonychia and Beau lines in Covid patients.

Covid-19 signs in nails
Studies have associated the following signs of Covid seen in nails:
-Horizontal grooves over fingernails and toenails
- White lines on all fingernails
-Orange discolorations at the end of nail beds
-Red‐violet bands in the nail bed
-Burning, and itching in fingers and toes which if persists for long affect the areas around the nail bed
-Tingling sensation in the toe nails
-Unexplainable peeling off in the fingernails

Word of caution
In all of these, the red half moon pattern has been witnessed more commonly in Covid-19 patients. In this, a red or purple colored half ring pattern forms at the base of the nail bed in Covid infected people.
Notably, studies have not been able to provide a concrete understanding of these signs with the disease. However, damage to the blood vessel during the viral infection can be a cause. It can also be understood as mini blood clots that have formed on the nail bed due to discolouration.
The red half moon at the base of the nail is a rarity in healthy people. Since it is a common sign among Covid-19 affected patients, people are advised to keep an eye out.

China: Bar-linked Covid outbreak in Beijing is ‘ferocious’, says official

Mint

Beijing is currently experiencing an 'explosive' Covid-19 outbreak, resulting in a new tightening of curbs (AP)

While China's infection rate is low by global standards, it maintains a zero-Covid policy, citing the need to protect the elderly and the medical system, even as other countries try to live with the virus.

A Covid-19 outbreak linked to a bar in China's capital Beijing, which has resulted in 166 people testing positive so far, is “ferocious", said local government spokesman Xu Hejian on Sunday.

The outbreak at the Chaoyang Heaven Supermarket Bar emerged last week and is at a rapidly spreading stage.

More cases are expected to be discovered among visitors to the bar and their close contacts, deputy director of Beijing disease control and prevention centre Liu Xiaofeng has said.

Beijing is currently experiencing an "explosive" Covid-19 outbreak, resulting in a new tightening of curbs since Thursday. At least two districts have closed some entertainment venues.

The capital city had only relaxed curbs less than two weeks ago that had been imposed to fight a major outbreak that began in April.

The sprawling Universal Beijing Resort - a theme park on the city's outskirts - on Friday rescinded a plan to reopen. City authorities said three of its workers had visited the Heaven Supermarket bar.

In Shanghai, officials announced three new confirmed local cases and one asymptomatic case detected outside quarantined areas on Saturday, as nearly all the city's 25 million residents have begun a new round of Covid tests.

Authorities ordered PCR testing for all residents in 15 of Shanghai's 16 districts this weekend, and five districts barred residents from leaving home during the testing period. A city official said residents should complete at least one PCR test a week until 31 July.

China's most populous city only lifted a gruelling two-month Covid-19 lockdown on 1 June.

While China's infection rate is low by global standards, it maintains a zero-Covid policy, citing the need to protect the elderly and the medical system, even as other countries try to live with the virus.

Covid situation in China

Mainland China reported 275 new coronavirus infections on 11 June, of which 134 were symptomatic and 141 were asymptomatic.

There were no new deaths, leaving the nation's fatalities at 5,226. As of Saturday, mainland China had confirmed 224,781 cases with symptoms.

Authorities reported 33 new cases on Sunday as of 3 pm (0700 GMT). The capital has reported 1,997 local Covid cases since 22 April.