Covid infections rise due to new Eris variant - see how many cases are in your area
13.09.2023 - 08:57
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The number of coronavirus cases continues to rise across the UK - largely due to the emergence of the new Eris variant, which experts say could be worse than previous mutations. There were 8,961 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in England in the week to September 3, according to the latest government data.
That works out at 15.8 cases for every 100,000 people in the country. There were also 298 cases in Wales - equivalent to 9.4 for every 100,000 people - and 1,561 in Scotland - 28.6 for every 100,000.
An outbreak of Covid-19 in a care home in Norfolk at the end of August saw 33 out of 38 residents test positive for the virus, along with 12 members of staff, according to the UKHSA. The rising number of new cases has led to the government in England rolling out the latest booster jabs earlier than planned in care homes.
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Flu vaccines will also be offered as health chiefs attempt to head off a potential 'twindemic'. Speaking on Monday NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “The NHS flu and Covid vaccination programmes have been very effective in protecting those at greatest risk and we will work at speed to ensure they are protected once again this year, starting with care homes and those who are housebound today."
Eris, or EG.5.1, was first classified as a variant by the World Health Organisation on August 9. It is now the second most prevalent variant in the UK , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the number of cases varies widely by locality. Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria currently has the highest rates of new infections of any local