A virus that has been circulating at very high levels for four months (on average 30,000 new infections per day over the last seven days), but much fewer hospitalizations than in previous waves (between 700 and 800 admissions per day, 919 people placed under ventilation) and a significant number of deaths but also stable (more than 100 daily deaths since mid-September) …
While part of Europe is submerged by a fifth epidemic wave, the health situation in the UK is surprisingly less alarming than in Austria, Slovakia or the Netherlands. And this, despite the abolition of all health precautionary measures in July (in England only), such as social distancing or the obligation to wear a mask on public transport, and the choice of the Johnson government not to not introduce the vaccination passport.
“Nothing in the available data indicates that we must activate our plan B”, Boris Johnson assured earlier this week. “Plan B” provides for the reintroduction of sanitary measures, starting with the obligation to wear a mask and work at home.
Increased immunity and vaccination
Same opinion for Professor Neil Ferguson, epidemiologist at Imperial College in London: “At this stage, plan B is not necessary. “ Asked by The world and a group of other European newspapers, on November 23, before the discovery of the Omicron variant, which could be more contagious than the Delta variant and poses risks of vaccine resistance, the epidemiologist, who is among the government’s scientific advisers Johnson, try an explanation. “If we are in a different situation from the rest of Europe, it is mainly because we have allowed the infection to spread at very high levels during the last four months. Since 1er July, the UK recorded five million cases, or 7.5% of the population. The real level of infection is probably twice as high, many infected people being asymptomatic, especially vaccinated people ”, estimates the researcher, become famous for being the one whose models convinced London to confine the population.
“This epidemic, which affected 15% of the population, has contributed to a substantial increase in immunity, especially among unvaccinated adolescents. [la campagne vaccinale pour les 12-15 ans n’a démarré qu’en septembre], but also probably that of re-infected double vaccines. The country is also ahead of the rest of Europe in administering third doses. ” More than 70% of people who had their two doses six months ago have now received a booster; including 80% of over 60s.
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