Daily Covid cases and hospitalizations increased by 26% in one week –

Covid cases and hospital admissions have risen again in the UK today as the health minister acknowledged this fall that “more people may need to be pushed”.

According to government dashboard data, 89,717 more infections were confirmed in the last 24 hours, 26% from the previous week and almost double from two weeks ago.

Technical foul means that not all cases in Scotland, where the number of cases are increasing rapidly, are added to today’s total, so the total in the UK is likely to be slightly higher.

Following Freedom Day and amid the emergence of the more contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, cases have been rising for two weeks.

There were 138 Covid deaths, down 3% in a week across the country. The average daily death toll for weeks has hovered around 100, demonstrating the weakened link between infection and serious illness. And intensive care fees have increased.

But admissions continue to rise, with the latest data showing 1,777 cases of virus hospitalization in the UK as of March 13, a 26% increase from the previous week.

The number of consecutive shots increased over the course of two weeks, which some scientists see as the first sign of diminished immunity to the original boosters that began spreading six months ago.

But in the UK, half of patients hospitalized with Covid are considered “accidental” cases: those who test positive after being hospitalized for another reason, or those who beat the disease to get sick for something else.

This could mean that the recent increase in hospital admissions is a reflection of the community’s infection rate rather than serious illness.

The health minister has announced that the UK’s booster vaccination program is preparing for another round of vaccinations this fall.

The fourth vaccine will be distributed to all people over the age of 75, those living in nursing homes and those with weakened immune systems, starting next week.

But Sajid Javid hinted last night that before the country’s third Covid winter, there are millions more available for additional doses by the end of the year.

Angered over the subject of ITV’s Peston program, he did not specify exactly who would be invited for the launch this fall. However, she acknowledged that there may be a “need to support more people.”

Experts think another immunization campaign this year could be extended to those over 50, effectively covering the same groups that will get free flu shots on the NHS.

When asked if the recall also covers the general population, Javid said, “I think they’re going to happen at some point.”

The graph shows: the number of Covid patients on ventilators in UK hospitals over time compared to the total number of coronavirus patients over time

He said the government would follow the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), a group of influential scientists who led No10 in historic vaccination campaigns.

Javid insists the group is “clear”, adding, “The latest advice is that they believe they’ll need a lot more people to get promoted later this year, maybe in the fall. Raise the offer. But I’m waiting for that advice.

Last month, the JCVI recommended that the spring immunization schedule include all people over 75, nursing home residents, and immunocompromised people over 12, about 8 million people.

It’s been six months since the third vaccines were launched, and the UK has yet to send out invitations for the next leg of the race, despite the rebound in the number of Covid vaccines and infections. Scotland launched its upgrade campaign more than a week ago.

Some have expressed concern that the current increase in hospitalizations could be the first sign of waning immunity to supporters, with former health minister Jeremy Hunt calling for “more vitality” last week.

A health source added that the launch of a second round of reinforcements could begin as early as next week, adding that it is “correct” for ministers to “pass”.

They said texts and letters can be sent to those who qualify and the NHS reservation system will be open from Monday.

Javid said last night: “When it comes to vaccines, I think we were right to follow our doctors’ advice.

‘There is a committee called JCVI and we are listening very carefully to what they have to say.

“They’re looking at the data very, very carefully, and as you mentioned, their final advice is to take a second step – or let’s call it the fourth dose – but focus on those over 75, people in nursing homes, people who are immunocompromised.

“Now we’re going to start with that later this month, we said, and we’re fully programmed there. But we always listen to their advice, if they come forward…’

When the plans were announced, officials said this would mean some severely immunocompromised people who have already had four vaccines will receive a fifth – this group may include blood cancer and organ transplant patients.

If a third booster cycle is approved, the odds rise that hundreds of thousands of people could receive a sixth dose this fall.

Only a quarter of the increase in NHS Covid beds recently occupied in the first week of March was due to patients actually contracting the virus, according to data from NHS England. The graph shows: the total number of Covid patients in the UK over time and changes in the number treated mainly for the virus

Data from NHS England shows an increase in the overall number of Covid patients and has varied considerably across the country, particularly with the virus. London has the lowest percentage of Covid patients primarily treated for the virus, with only 27% actually hospitalized for an infection

Data from NHS England show that 63% of people over the age of 18 – or 31 million of the 50 million – have already received the third dose.

But admissions vary widely by age group, and more than nine out of ten people over 70 have a third chance. Between the ages of 18-29, this is only one-third.

Sources at JCVI suggested last month that the recall program could be expanded further in the fall, possibly to the full 50s.

There are around 5.5 million people over the age of 75 in the UK called for the fourth dose. If the disc is expanded to people over 50, 17 million more will be added.

Ministers have not concealed plans for an annual Covid strike program that could cost around £600m.

SAGE scientists also supported the strategy, saying it will be part of the gradual transition of Covid to being endemic like the flu.

But other scientists have argued that if the virus softens over time, an endless booster cycle may not be necessary.

The number of Covid cases in the UK has increased over the past two weeks, with the country now having an average of 73,000 new infections per day.

The number of hospital admissions also increased during this period and is currently at a similar level as early February when the Omicron wave receded.

But half of patients hospitalized with Covid are believed to be “accidental” cases: those who test positive after being hospitalized for another reason, or those who beat the disease to get sick for something else.

This could mean that the recent increase in hospital admissions is a reflection of the community’s infection rate rather than serious illness.

The increase coincided with an increase in cases of a more contagious version of Omicron, scientifically termed BA.2, accounting for 80% of cases by estimates.

But ministers in the UK say the increases are “expected” after the country’s “Friday” on February 24, when the last of its Covid measures was lifted. “There’s nothing in the data that worries us right now,” Javid said.

But in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has decided to keep mandatory face masks in place until April, saying authorities do not expect the BA.2 outbreak to peak in the coming weeks.