Brits should start wearing face masks again on public transport, experts say, as a super-contagious Covid variant sweeps the country.
Arcturus now accounts for one in 40 new cases, sparking fears that it could soon become a dominant strain and spark a new wave of disease.
Ministers have already been urged to offer booster vaccines to millions more Britons because of the spread.
Virologists have warned that despite the fact that the virus is much milder and the UK is no longer under the heavy restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Covid still poses a threat.
Professor Stephen Griffin, chairman of Independent SAGE, the panel of experts who criticized Downing Street’s handling of the disease during the pandemic, said: “We are clearly in a much better position now”.
Chart showing the number of Arcturus cases in UK regions, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency. That includes 96 cases in England, with the highest rates in London and the North West
A family of three wear face masks as they walk around London Bridge today, April 28, 2023
However, he told MailOnline that he would urge people to continue testing wherever possible or necessary.
Professor Griffin, from the University of Leeds, also urged employers and the government to support people when they are unwell and need to self-isolate.
He encouraged adults to wear a well-fitting N95 mask or a high-quality mask in “poorly ventilated indoor areas or on public transport”.
“This may seem like a throwback to last year, but the reality is that the virus continues to wreak havoc and those least able to deal with it continue to suffer,” Professor Griffin added.
“In the absence of mitigation action at the population level…the focus remains on individual risk, which for many is now much lower.
“However, the situation remains dynamic with declining immunity and high rates of virus development.
“Unless government acts to allow everyone to ‘live’ with Covid, vulnerable people will continue to need precautionary measures and ideally others will act with an appropriate level of altruism.”
Some hospitals and NHS bodies are still requiring patients to cover themselves before entering, although this is no longer a legal requirement.
A shopper in east London wears a face mask today, April 28, 2023
Surveillance data shows that Arcturus, scientifically known as XBB.1.16, accounts for around 2.3 per cent of all new cases in the UK
Other subvariants of Omicron include Kraken (XBB.1.5) and Orthrus (CH.1.1). Currently, octopus remains the dominant species in the UK as of April 14, causing 44 per cent of cases, while Omicron accounts for 8 per cent and Arcturus 2.3 per cent, the UKHSA said
Unofficial figures collected by health-tech firm ZOE suggest around 70,000 Britons are becoming infected every day, with cases in free fall for weeks. This level is only a fraction of what has been seen during previous waves
India is now recording nearly 10,000 Covid cases every day. This is up from 160 at the end of February when the variant was gaining momentum. Data suggests this accounts for two-thirds of all cases in the country. Data is based on confirmed cases only
Professor Martin McKee, a public health specialist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Covid is still with us and remains a threat to public health.”
Surveillance data shows that Arcturus, or XBB.1.16, accounts for about 2.3 percent of all new cases.
The proportion has tripled since the beginning of April.
Only one region, the North East, has yet to see it, according to a report from Britain’s Health Security Agency.
Top experts insist there is no evidence the strain is more severe than others in circulation and has morphed into a milder disease like the flu.
But XBB.1.16 – a sub-strain of Omicron – has three additional mutations on its spike protein that can help it bypass the body’s natural defences.
It is believed to have evolved into the most contagious variant to date.
Some experts have suggested it could trigger a Covid resurgence similar to that in India, where it was first detected.
Unofficial figures suggest around 70,000 Britons are becoming infected every day, with cases in free fall for weeks. This level is only a fraction of what has been seen during previous waves.
India is now recording nearly 10,000 Covid cases every day. This is up from 160 at the end of February when the variant was gaining momentum.
Data suggests this accounts for two-thirds of all cases in the country.
Some of the worst-hit states have already brought back mandatory masks to control the rapid spread.
Despite warnings of chaos being caused by Arcturus, other experts insist there is no need to panic.
Britain’s previous Covid vaccination campaign – and repeated waves – have drastically mitigated the threat of the virus and its spread.
It has allowed the country to move forward in post-pandemic life, leaving behind draconian restrictions.
Professor Robert Dingwall, who advised ministers on the virus during the pandemic, also told MailOnline today: “We must stop jumping at every new Covid variant that is emerging unless there is solid evidence that we have one have poor immunity to it.”
He added: “We must treat Covid like any other flu-like illness. The influenza virus also changes fairly regularly, but it’s not a headline news.
The chart shows one million Covid boosters were administered in the first three weeks of the NHS Spring Booster campaign, compared with 1.37 million in the same period last year and 2.8 million at the autumn launch
NHS England officially launched its Spring Booster campaign (see graphic) on April 3, opening up the latest round of vaccinations to the over 75s, care home residents and over fives with health conditions that make them more vulnerable
Professor Stephen Griffin, chairman of Independent SAGE, an expert panel which has criticized No10’s handling of the disease, said: “We are clearly in a much better position now”.
“Public health agencies are tracking the changes so vaccines can be adjusted accordingly. Covid requires no other response now.’
Arcturus was first identified in January and has been under surveillance by the World Health Organization (WHO) since late March.
It has now been registered in 34 countries, including the US, Singapore, Australia and Canada.
Officials are no longer tracking the spread of the virus in the same way they used to, as part of the government’s rollout of pre-pandemic normalcy.
Variation tracking options have also been scaled back.
It comes after MailOnline revealed yesterday that the UK’s current Covid booster campaign is the slowest in the country yet.
Just one million doses were administered in the first three weeks of the campaign, which began on April 3.
This is far less than the uptake during last spring’s spiking program, when almost 1.4 million shots were administered over the same period.
Leading experts today claimed the “disappointing” pace could be due to vaccine fatigue. Others have suggested that the success of the Covid vaccines themselves could be the cause, as Britons are now underestimating the threat of the virus thanks to society’s wall of immunity.
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