On March 17, local time, according to the latest data released on the British government website, in the past 7 days (the United Kingdom has stopped updating case data daily), 534747 new confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in the United Kingdom, an increase of 44% over the previous week; 740 new related deaths.
As of now, the UK has 20001627 confirmed cases and 163386 cumulative deaths.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that cases of infection are on the rise in all age groups, with the highest being those aged 30 to 40.
The UKHSA said the rise in cases may have been due to increased social contact, the removal of self-isolation rules and the rapid spread of the more contagious Aomi Kejung subtype mutant strain BA.2.
According to Sky News, since February 24, all remaining epidemic prevention restrictions in England have been replaced by the British government's "coexistence with the new crown virus" plan: people who test positive for the new crown are no longer quarantined according to the law, and the tracing of close contacts has been lifted. Enterprises also no longer require employees infected with COVID-19 to self-isolate according to law.
Meanwhile, Transport for London has announced that passengers no longer need to wear masks when travelling on public transport.
In addition, according to the latest data released by the UK Health Security Agency, since the beginning of the new crown epidemic, 62 people in England have been infected with new crown pneumonia four times, at least 90 days apart each time; another 7640 people have been infected with new crown pneumonia three times; and 715154 people have been infected with new crown pneumonia twice.
The above data comes only from England, which means that more people will actually be re-infected with COVID-19 in the UK.
According to the British Sky Network, Paul Hunter, a medical professor at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, said that people who have been infected with new crown pneumonia many times are likely to be infected with different mutated strains, but even if the virus stops evolving now, the immunity through nasal and pharyngeal infections is so short that people are likely to be re-infected every two years or so.
Hunter said: "I think the coronavirus will be a part of our lives. Many of us are re-infected every few years, even to our children and grandchildren. "
But he also said that although immunity to the virus is weakened, it is still possible to prevent serious diseases. Therefore, the future outbreak of new crown pneumonia will be milder.