Scientists in the United Kingdom warned on Sunday that the country is in for a “very terrible winter” owing to the anticipated appearance of new respiratory viruses, with further lockdowns a possibility.
According to Xinhua, Professor Calum Semple of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), a British government advisory group, youngsters and the elderly will be particularly vulnerable to endemic viruses by the end of the year.
He described it as the “fourth wave winter,” telling Times Radio that “every pandemic has a sting in the tail,” because social isolation will have reduced people’s exposure to common endemic respiratory viruses like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
“I believe we’ll have a dreadful winter because the other respiratory infections will return and bite us hard,” he said. “But after that, I believe business will resume as usual next year.”
Meanwhile, Susan Hopkins, COVID-19 director at Public Health England, cautioned that “we may have to do more lockdowns this winter” if hospitals become overburdened.
“I believe we will have different means to manage this,” she told the BBC, “via immunisation, antivirals, medications, and tests that we didn’t have last winter.”
Scientists have cautioned that the third wave of coronavirus infections has “certainly started” in England due to the rapid spread of the Delta variety initially found in India, despite the fact that hospital admissions are unlikely to be as high as they were in January.
According to new statistics from Public Health England, the AstraZeneca vaccination is 92 percent effective after two doses against hospitalisation from the Delta strain, whereas the Pfizer vaccine is 96 percent effective.
According to the most recent official numbers, more than 42.6 million people have received the first dosage of the coronavirus vaccination, with more than 31 million receiving a second dose.
Experts have cautioned that coronavirus could mutate for years, and those current vaccinations could eventually fail to protect against transmission, infection, or sickness caused by newer variations.
Written By: Swati Sahoo
