As the number of instances increases once more, COVID has undoubtedly not faded into the background.

Many people may view the epidemic as a terrible nightmare, but according to recent statistics, the number of cases has more than doubled since January of this year, proving that COVID hasn’t faded into the background. Since the start of the year, Covid cases have been gradually increasing as vaccine immunity declines and variants emerge.

According to the most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the “positivity rate” jumped from 4.2% to 4.5% in the week ending Sunday, April 6, resulting in a 7% increase in the number of hospital patients in England who tested positive for Covid. In early January, when COVID reached its lowest level in at least two years, the positive rate was only 2.2%, meaning that approximately 1 in 330 persons were infected.

British citizens are warned not to be overconfident, even though the current level is only about 25% of last summer’s peak.

Although another “pandemic-level crisis like in 2020” is unlikely, Dr. Wylie believes those most likely to catch new variants are those who have not received a recent booster or infection.

For up to two months following their immunization, people who received the vaccine had a more than 40% lower chance of being hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who did not, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency based on the 2024 spring vaccination program.

Dr. Wylie says, “Seasonal changes and increased indoor social mixing can contribute to the spread, much like we see with other respiratory viruses.”

“Common symptoms include a sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, and sometimes a fever or loss of taste or smell, though the latter is less frequent now.”

Approximately 7.5 million individuals in England are qualified to receive the NHS spring booster top-up vaccine. The booster will be accessible from April 1 to June 17.

There are vaccinations available to:

People 75 years of age and older are the target audience.

Residents of an elderly care facility.

Individuals with a compromised immune system, aged six months to seventy-four, are more vulnerable to serious illness.

You don’t need to wait for your birthday to arrive if you are 74 years old and turn 75 on June 17, 2025.