{"id":66961,"date":"2023-09-04T16:43:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T16:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotcelebon.com\/?p=66961"},"modified":"2023-09-04T16:43:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T16:43:49","slug":"covid-cases-nearly-double-in-a-month-as-kids-return-to-school-amid-fears-around-new-rapidly-spreading-pirola-variant-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotcelebon.com\/lifestyle\/covid-cases-nearly-double-in-a-month-as-kids-return-to-school-amid-fears-around-new-rapidly-spreading-pirola-variant-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid cases nearly double in a month as kids return to school amid fears around new \u2018rapidly-spreading\u2019 Pirola variant | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

COVID cases have nearly doubled in a month, data shows as children return to schools today.<\/p>\n

Figures from the ZOE health study show there 93,432 symptomatic cases on September 1, up from around 50,000 at the start of August.<\/p>\n

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King\u2019s College London experts estimate it means there are around 1.16million people infected with Covid in Britain in total currently.<\/p>\n

It comes amid fears around the new \u201cPirola\u201d variant that has seen the country\u2019s vaccine rollout brought forward.<\/p>\n

The ZOE figures are based on data from millions of users on the company\u2019s app, which tracks symptoms of the virus.<\/p>\n

Its estimate of current infections is nearly double the around 606,000 thought to be carrying it on July 3 \u2014 the lowest number since the study began.<\/p>\n

Read more on Covid<\/span><\/h2>\n

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From symptoms to immunity – what you need to know about Covid variant Pirola<\/h3>\n

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Millions to get Covid & flu jabs EARLIER – as new Omicron strain raises fears<\/h3>\n

The resurgence began more than a month before the first case of Pirola was spotted in Britain on August 18.<\/p>\n

The substrain of Omicron \u2014 also known as BA.2.86 \u2014 is highly mutated and experts are concerned it could evade immunity from past infection or vaccines.<\/p>\n

It carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the dominant variant through most of 2023.<\/p>\n

All the mutations have been found in the virus\u2019 spike protein \u2014 the part used to gain entry to human cells.<\/p>\n

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The NHS last week announced the Covid and flu jab rollout was being brought forward September 11, having previously been set for October.<\/p>\n

However, it has not affected who will be offered a jab, with care home residents and those most at risk being given another dose first.<\/p>\n

Carers, pregnant women, and health and social care staff will all be among the groups to be offered a Covid and flu jab this autumn, as well as adults aged 65 and over.<\/p>\n

School children, who return to classrooms today, will not be eligible for a dose.<\/p>\n

What are the main symptoms of Pirola?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is currently no evidence to suggest Pirola causes any new symptoms that aren\u2019t already common with other Omicron variants.<\/p>\n

According to the ZOE study, these include:\u00a0<\/p>\n