Experts say music festivals and large Euros screenings present the risk of infection
A surge in Covid-19 cases is sweeping the UK, with experts pointing to mass events like music festivals and Euros viewings as hotspots for transmission. The rise in infections is attributed to the emergence of new variants named FLiRT and LB. 1, which are leading to an uptick in reported cold-like symptoms.
Is there cause for alarm over the new Covid variants? According to Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS and private GP at Pall Mall Medical, coronavirus is able to spread rapidly over the summer months. "Increased travel and big events such as festivals often result in crowded settings where the virus can spread more easily, and there is no longer any legal restrictions like wearing masks, social distancing," she said.
Speaking to The Times, Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, acknowledged the evidence of a summer wave but stressed that Covid "will never be as serious as it once was". He said that while the risk remains low for those under 40, it is "real and significant" for the elderly and vulnerable.
However, Professor Hunter explained that immunity to infection wanes much quicker, saying: "Immunity to infection lasts on average only four to six months. That is true for younger people aged 20 to 30 as well."
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