Side Effects of Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee: COVID-19 Cases in the UK Are Up by 43%

According to the latest numbers from the Platinum Jubilee weekend of partying, COVID-19 infections are on the rise across the UK.

The virus has infected an estimated 1.4 million people, or one in 45, up from one in 65 the week before. That's a 43 percent increase. Some of the new infections are thought to be caused by two additional fast-spreading Omicron subvariants known as BA.4 and BA.5. Even if they have recently had other types of COVID-19, they can catch them, as per BBC.

Platinum Jubilee Parties Blamed For Rapid Surge in COVID-19 Cases

It is too early to determine if this is the start of a new wave, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which produces the statistics. Between the 2nd and 5th of June, millions of people gathered around the UK to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, enabling COVID-19 with several possibilities to disseminate its story.

People normally start developing symptoms or testing positive after getting it after a few days, thus the most recent data covers some of the Jubilee minglings. Thousands of people from UK households were tested, whether or not they had symptoms, to assess how much virus was there. COVID-19 ratings for the week ending June 11 are as follows:

In England, one in 50 people have died, up from one in 70 the week before.
One in 45 people in Wales died, up from one in 75 before.
Northern Ireland now has one in 45 people, up from one in 65 before.
Scotland now has one in every thirty people, up from one in every 40.

Following a period of low case rates, the UK is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 outbreaks among persons aged 80 and up in care homes and hospitals.

"It is good that we are not seeing a spike in critical care unit admissions," said Dr. Mary Ramsay of the UK Health Security Agency, "but we are closely monitoring statistics and examining the likely impact of sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5."

Omicron BA.4, BA.5 Prevalent in UK

The virus is thought to be most widespread in Scotland, where 176,900 people, or one in every 30, tested positive last week, up from 124,100 the week before (one in 40). COVID-19 infections have increased to an estimated 42,900 patients in Northern Ireland, or one in every 45. (one in 65).

The new ONS dataset is anticipated to include the repercussions of the Queen's 75th year on the throne, which saw millions of people congregate nearby around the country to honor her, The Independent reported.

In the days after the holiday weekend, those infected with the virus will have begun to show symptoms or test positive. While the "jubilee festivities may have brought people together," Professor Irene Petersen, an epidemiologist at UCL, pointed out that "many of these activities were outside."

Because of the circulation of BA.4 and BA.5, she stated the increase in infections was "anticipated for some time." Infection rates are highest among 50- to 69-year-olds, with 2.7 percent - one in 35 - expected to have had the virus in the week ending June 11th. "We should keep a watch" on this age group, according to Prof Petersen, "since there are still quite a few who haven't been triple-vaxed."

The statistics are the most recent in a string of data that suggests the virus is spreading faster than previously thought. In the United Kingdom, the number of persons admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 has begun to rise, albeit the trend is not uniform throughout the country.

Per Mirror, the virus is thought to be most widespread in Scotland, where 176,900 persons, or one in 30, tested positive last week, up from 124,100, or one in 40, the week before. COVID-19 infections have increased in Northern Ireland to an estimated 42,900 patients, or one in 45, up from 27,700, or one in 65. The increase in cases comes after the UK Health Security Agency said on Thursday that COVID-19 outbreaks and hospitalizations had increased in the previous week.