Another Covid variant is taking off in Britain — but experts have today insisted there is nothing to panic about.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses have raised the alarm about Eris, saying it already makes up one in seven new cases after reaching the UK towards the end of May.
Hospitalisation rates are also starting to shoot up, sparking concern that the nation may be on the brink of being hit by a fresh wave.
However, experts today claimed it shows no sign of being more dangerous than the other strains circulating, including its ancestor Omicron.
Officials also say they are ‘closely' monitoring the spread of the virus.
Experts have speculated that the ‘Barbenheimer effect' – referring to the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer – might have contributed to the rise in infections, as well as the recent bad weather and waning immunity.
UKHSA analysts estimate Covid positivity rates increased to 5.4 per cent with 17 outbreaks confirmed, on the previous week, which itself saw a rise of 3.7 per cent. Leading experts fear the outbreak will continue to pick up pace in the coming weeks as part of the virus's natural cycle
Leading experts fear the outbreak will continue to pick up pace in the coming weeks as part of the virus's natural cycle. But officials say they are ‘closely' monitoring the spread of the virus. The UK however is no longer publishing daily infection numbers because so few tests are being carried out after the pandemic.
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