Corona: In Britain the number of cases skyrockets due to the mutation

Britain reported the crown mutation three weeks ago – this is what the situation looks like today

The situation in Britain is reaching a critical point. Corona cases increased considerably during the holidays. There have never been more corona patients in hospitals than today. Scotland is now suffering drastic consequences.

In mid-December, British authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about a new variant of the coronavirus. Since then, many eyes have been on Britain. Because the coronavirus mutation is possibly up to 70 percent more contagious. However, this cannot be said with absolute certainty: research on the mutant B.1.1.7 is still ongoing.

What is certain, however, is that the situation in Britain has significantly worsened over the holidays, and the mutant is now spreading across the country.

The next 5 points show you how the situation has gotten worse.

The number of cases

Thanks to the lockdown in November, the number of cases in the UK has dropped significantly. At the beginning of December they were around 15,000 newspapers. However, about two weeks after the end of the strict restrictions, the numbers rose again.

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And quickly: around 40,000 cases were reported on Christmas Eve, more than ever. However, this record should be broken again in the coming days. At the end of the year, the number of new infections was more than 50,000 cases per day. For comparison: Great Britain has about 66 million inhabitants. 50,000 cases would correspond to around 6,500 cases in Switzerland.

The positivity rate

However, the number of cases is only significant up to a point, as there was less testing during the holidays. Christina Pagel, head of the clinical research department at University College London, wrote this in a high-profile Twitter thread. Therefore, it indicates the rate of positivity. This increased throughout England around Christmas time.

The increase in London is remarkable. On December 22, 16 percent of all test takers received a positive result. A week later, on December 29, the positivity rate was already 27 percent.

This, although level 4 of the crown measures has been in effect in London for two weeks. Most of the stores are closed and people are asked to stay home. You can find the exact details of the measurements in level 4 here; they are significantly stricter than those currently in force in Switzerland. At the moment Level 4 applies to around 40 million Britons, in some regions Level 3 still applies.

The situation in hospitals

The number of Covid patients has also increased in England. Around 25,000 people were treated yesterday Sunday. This corresponds to a 41 percent increase since Christmas. In London, this increase is even 58 percent.

At the moment, far more Covid-19 patients are being treated in English hospitals than at the height of the first wave.

Meanwhile, daily hospitalizations are roughly at the same level as at the height of the first wave. However, it can be assumed that this number will rise again, as many people only have to be hospitalized for several days after a positive test.

The mutation

Now, of course, the question arises of what the mutation has to do with the rapid rise in Covid cases. Signs of a connection are increasing. “It is now clear that the new variant is significantly more transferable than previous variants, that is, by 40-80%,” the independent group of scientists “SAGE independent” stated yesterday.

As epidemiologist Deepti Gurdasani also points out, citing official figures, the mutation has now spread throughout England. Not only that: the mutation has already displaced the previously known virus variant in most regions.

It is also noteworthy that in London the number of hospitalizations and the number of cases are increasing with particular force. London and south-east England are the regions in which the mutation initially appeared with particular frequency.

So it turns out that the mutant can spread despite strict measures. A flattening of the numbers is not noticeable even two weeks after activating level 4.

By the way: in Switzerland six confirmed cases of the mutation that arose in Great Britain are known so far. However, it cannot be ruled out that the mutant is already more widespread in Switzerland than previously known.

So go on now

Schools have been reopened in many parts of England since Monday. But not in London, where they will be closed until January 18. However, the three largest teacher associations in the country are now calling for the opening of schools across the country to be stopped.

Education sector employees are exposed to a “serious risk of illness”, according to a joint letter. Teachers associations harshly criticize Prime Minister Boris Johnson: “Rather than casually claiming that schools are safe, the prime minister should sit down with associations to discuss a joint approach to ensuring safe working conditions.”

The criticism from the teachers’ associations comes a day after Boris Johnson defended the school’s vacancies in a television interview. “Schools are safe,” the Prime Minister emphasized several times on the BBC’s “Andrew Marr Show.” Education is your government’s top priority.

Not only teachers’ associations, but also opposition leaders want stricter rules. “The virus is out of control,” Keir Starmer tweeted, calling for action to be taken within 24 hours. “No more hesitation, no more delay.”

However, Johnson initially did not respond to the Labor leader’s request. During a visit to a London hospital on Monday morning, the prime minister reaffirmed his intention to keep schools open.

However, Johnson leaked that there should be even stricter measures soon. They want to wait a little longer to see what effects level 4 has. That is still unclear. “But I think if you look at the numbers, there is no question that we need to take stricter measures and we will announce them in due course.”

Meanwhile, Scotland made nails with heads. On Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a nationwide shutdown until the end of January. Schools, shops, leisure facilities: everything closes. The pressure on Johnson is mounting. At 9:00 p.m. (CET) he wants to address the population with a speech.