England’s COVID-19 prevalence rises, led by Delta not Omicron

LONDON, Dec 3 (Reuters) – An increase within the prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England within the newest week was pushed by the dominant Delta variant reasonably than Omicron, Britain’s Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) mentioned on Friday.

There have been 134 confirmed circumstances of the Omicron variant in Britain, which has mutations in line with diminished vaccine efficacy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched journey restrictions to sluggish the unfold of Omicron till it’s higher understood. read more

The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England rose to round 1 in 60 individuals within the week ending Nov. 27 from 1 in 65 reported the earlier week, the ONS mentioned, including that 99% of all sequenced circumstances had been Delta.

“Thus far, we’ve got not recognized any infections suitable with the brand new Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) amongst our survey contributors,” the ONS mentioned.

Nonetheless, the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) mentioned that within the week since, there had been an increase within the proportion of exams displaying a particular mutation that distinguishes Omicron from Delta however can seem in different variants. read more

“That is nonetheless a really small variety of circumstances however is being investigated rigorously to grasp whether or not it’s associated to journey, every other variant or whether or not there’s proof of unfold of Omicron starting in the neighborhood,” UKHSA mentioned.

The World Well being Group’s chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, informed the Reuters Subsequent convention that Omicron may displace Delta because the dominant variant globally however that it was unattainable to foretell. read more

However it’s the unfold of the dominant and extremely transmissible Delta variant, particularly amongst kids, that’s preserving an infection ranges excessive for now.

On Thursday, Britain reported its highest every day an infection quantity since July, and the ONS mentioned infections had been highest in kids. read more

Ravi Gupta, Professor of Scientific Microbiology, College of Cambridge, mentioned that it was not a on condition that Omicron would fully displace Delta, which could proceed to flow into in unvaccinated populations like younger kids.

“Extra Delta circulating in youngsters after which extra Omicron circulating proportionately in vaccinated people is one state of affairs that would play out… it will likely be exhausting to displace Delta utterly,” he informed Reuters.

“Omicron is just not spreading quickly in the mean time, by the look of it… there’s in all probability sustained neighborhood transmission, however it’s in all probability simply beginning.”

Reporting by Alistair Smout; modifying by Michael Holden, James Davey and Sandra Maler

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.