Covid Arcturus news – latest: True origins ‘may never be revealed’ as new variant cases soar in India

We may never know the true origins of Covid-19, a Chinese doctor who helped lead the country’s pandemic response has said as cases of the new variant soar in India.

Dr George Fu Gao told The Telegraph he is “not optimistic” the origin of the virus will ever be known.

“It’s too sensitive; too politicised,” he said, adding: “We must focus on science.”

Dr Gao who led the Chinese Center for Disease Control when the Covid-19 virus first emerged in 2019, made the comments at the Rhodes Policy Summit on pandemic preparedness in London on Friday.

His comments come as a new coronavirus strain dubbed Arcturus appears to be driving a surge in Covid-19 cases in India, prompting the country to resume vaccine production and sparking fears it could lead to a rise in cases in the UK and elsewhere.

India clocked 60,313 active cases on Monday, federal home ministry data showed.

Officials said last week cases that the diseases is moving towards the endemic stage in the country, reported Press Trust of India

Key Points

• What are the symptoms of the new Covid variant?

• How many cases of new variant are in UK?

• What do we know about the new Covid variant?

• Doctors urge caution: ‘This is one to watch’

Mapped: Worst areas in UK for Covid cases amid fears over new Arcturus variant

14:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In case you missed it...

England’s North East currently has the highest Covid infection rate of any UK region, according to new figures from the Zoe Health Study app.

Nearly 1.25 million people are currently thought to have symptomatic coronavirus in the UK, according to the Zoe Covid study, whose estimates are based on users self-reporting symptoms and test results.

This is down from a recent peak of nearly 1.5 million suspected symptomatic infections a fortnight ago, which itself was below previous highs of more than 1.6 million over New Year and in mid-October.

Mapped: Worst areas in UK for Covid cases amid fears over new variant

Arcturus: What do we know about the new Covid variant?

13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A new Covid strain behind a surge of infections in India has sparked fears it could also lead to a rise in cases in the UK.

Research indicates Arcturus could be one 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.

Also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March.

Addressing Arcturus’s emergence at a press conference on 29 March, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid, said: “It’s been in circulation for a few months.

“We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that’s why we have these systems in place. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity.”

What we know about the new Arcturus Covid variant

Why the world is unprepared if new Covid variant Arcturus proves deadly – in graphs

12:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A new coronavirus variant is making headlines around the world, causing cases to rise and prompting warnings from scientists that it could soon be the dominant strain.

The Arcturus variant has led to a spike in infections in India, which recorded 11,109 new Covid infections on Friday – the biggest jump in almost a year – and it has now been found in 22 countries, including the UK, Singapore, Australia and the US.

But to what extent have countries let their guard down? Data analysed by The Independent shows that many have significantly scaled back their testing, vaccination and tracing capabilities, meaning that many would be unprepared if the world were to be hit by another deadly Covid strain.

Why the world is unprepared if new Covid variant proves deadly – in graphs

Arcturus: What is the new Covid variant causing a surge in cases?

11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

New Covid strain, Arcturus, is already causing a surge of cases in India, and it’s thought to be 1.2 times more contagious than the last Omicron subvariant.

It’s been detected in 22 countries so far including the UK and US, with India reporting 40,215 active Covid cases on 12 April - prompting strict measures to be brought back.

“It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity”, says Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid, adding it’s been in circulation ‘for a few months’.

Arcturus: What is the new Covid variant causing a surge in cases?

IVYMI: India restarts Covid vaccine production as new infections soar 30% in one day

10:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

India is ramping up its vaccine production following a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases driven by a new subvariant dubbed Arcturus.

The country recorded 10,158 news Covid cases on Thursday, a 30 per cent surge in one day, according to the federal health ministry data.

The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US. It is believed to be responsible for the uptick in infections in India and seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, has restarted the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines, the chief executive Adar Poonawalla said.

India restarts Covid vaccine production as new infections soar 30% in one day

Top scientists warn ‘the next pandemic is coming and we’re not ready’

09:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK is not ready for the next global pandemic because public services are being dismantled and key research is being defunded, experts have claimed.

More than three years after the global outbreak of coronavirus, top scientists have warned that the UK is no better prepared for a pandemic than it was in 2020.

They say another epidemic on the scale of Covid-19 is inevitable, but that disinvestment in infection-monitoring services, dismantling of key infrastructure, and the state of the NHS mean the country is “losing ground”.

The warning comes as virologists told The Independent that the new Covid-19 variant behind a surge of 10,000 new Covid cases a day in India may turn more aggressive, and could become the dominant strain in the UK.

Top scientists warn ‘the next pandemic is coming and we’re not ready’

Beijing drops mandatory mask requirements for travellers despite new Covid strain surge

08:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Beijing’s subway has dropped mandatory mask requirements for travellers, local media reported on Sunday, days after a Chinese health expert said the threat of Covid-19 to humans is no longer at a serious level.

The mask move is in line with broader measures by China, which said last week it was now no longer mandatory to wear face masks when using public transport, according to state media.

The breakthrough in China comes as a new coronavirus strain dubbed Arcturus appears to be driving a surge in Covid-19 cases in India, prompting the country to resume vaccine production and sparking fears it could lead to a rise in cases in the UK and elsewhere.

Millions eligible for Covid booster urged to book appointment

07:38 , Katy Clifton

Millions of people are eligible for a Covid booster jab from today.

The NHS has issued 1.25 million invitations through the NHS app, where appointments can be made. Eligible people include those aged 75 and over, and anyone aged five and over who has a weakened immune system, alongside the care home programme of vaccinations which began two weeks ago.

NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: "The covid vaccine still has a crucial role to play in protecting those at greatest risk of severe illness from the virus, including those with a weakened immune system as well as all aged 75 and above.

"It is great to see that around 320,000 people have booked in to get a jab with around hundreds of thousands of further slots available across the country this week alone.

"The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has delivered almost 145 million vaccine doses since December 2020 and staff will not stop in their efforts to give people extra protection. I would urge anyone eligible for this extra protection to get their spring covid vaccination at the earliest opportunity and give yourself peace of mind this summer."

Arcturus: New Covid variant sweeping India shows unique symptom in children

07:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

A new Covid variant dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of fresh cases in India seems to have some unique symptoms in children, experts have pointed out.

The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US.

It is believed to be responsible for an uptick in infections in India, leading to the government adopting new measures to stop its spread, including bringing back some mask laws and running hospital drills.

India recorded 11,109 new cases on Friday, the country’s health ministry said, a sharp jump from 7,830 new Covid cases reported in the last 24 hours. The numbers reported are the highest in eight months with the active caseload surging to 49,622.

The spread of the strain, first detected in late January, is worrying experts, as it seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Read more:

Latest Covid variant sweeping India shows unique symptom in children

Arcturus: What do we know about the new Covid variant?

05:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

A new Covid strain behind a surge of infections in India has sparked fears it could also lead to a rise in cases in the UK.

Research indicates Arcturus could be one 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.

Also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March.

Addressing Arcturus’s emergence at a press conference on 29 March, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid, said: “It’s been in circulation for a few months.

“We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that’s why we have these systems in place. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity.”

My colleague Joe Sommerlad reports:

What we know about the new Arcturus Covid variant

Why the world is unprepared if new Covid variant Arcturus proves deadly – in graphs

03:00 , Eleanor Noyce

A new coronavirus variant is making headlines around the world, causing cases to rise and prompting warnings from scientists that it could soon be the dominant strain.

The Arcturus variant has led to a spike in infections in India, which recorded 11,109 new Covid infections on Friday – the biggest jump in almost a year – and it has now been found in 22 countries, including the UK, Singapore, Australia and the US.

A subvariant of Omicron, the XBB.1.16 strain is being studied by experts, who fear that its spike protein mutations could make it more aggressive. It causes novel symptoms in children, including conjunctivitis.

Virologist Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick told The Independent that the rise of the new variant in India is a sign that “we’re not yet out of the woods”.

“We have to keep an eye on it,” he said. “When a new variant arises you have to find out if it’s more infectious, more disease-causing, is it more pathogenic?

“These kinds of things highlight the importance of genomic surveillance, but a lot of countries, including our own, have let our guard down a bit, and we can’t be sure what variants are around and what level of infection they’re causing until we see a significant outbreak.”

Nick Ferris reports:

Why the world is unprepared if new Covid variant proves deadly – in graphs

Editorial: We cannot afford to be unprepared for the next pandemic

02:00 , Eleanor Noyce

The most regrettable – indeed dangerous – consequence of the government’s “living with Covid” approach is that it leaves the country so poorly prepared for the next pandemic, or indeed a recrudescence of Covid, such as via the Arcturus coronavirus subvariant that is now emerging.

As our package of reports highlights, there is worrying evidence that the authorities are taking unacceptable risks with public health. Sad to say, it is as if Britain has learned nothing from the initial response to the coronavirus crisis in the spring of 2020. Have we really learned so little, and forgotten so much?

While the return to normality – thanks to the combined efforts of the NHS, the public compliance with the emergency lockdowns and the vaccines – is obviously welcome, Covid has not gone away. Far from it.

Editorial: We have only to reflect on the vast cost – at least £400bn – of the last pandemic to Britain to understand the force of the old medical adage about prevention being better than cure:

Editorial: We cannot afford to be unprepared for the next pandemic

Covid vaccine still has a ‘crucial role’ in protecting against the virus, says NHS director

01:00 , Eleanor Noyce

Millions are eligible for the spring Covid-19 booster from Monday as hundreds of thousands of vaccination appointments are made available to book through the NHS.

NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “The covid vaccine still has a crucial role to play in protecting those at greatest risk of severe illness from the virus, including those with a weakened immune system as well as all aged 75 and above.

“It is great to see that around 320,000 people have booked in to get a jab with around hundreds of thousands of further slots available across the country this week alone.

“The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has delivered almost 145 million vaccine doses since December 2020 and staff will not stop in their efforts to give people extra protection.

“I would urge anyone eligible for this extra protection to get their spring covid vaccination at the earliest opportunity and give yourself peace of mind this summer.”

Those invited should make sure their appointment takes place at least three months after the last dose.

The last spring vaccination appointments will be offered on June 30, with more targeted seasonal campaigns likely in the future.

Millions eligible for Covid jab as spring booster campaign begins

Monday 17 April 2023 00:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Millions are eligible for the spring Covid-19 booster from Monday as hundreds of thousands of vaccination appointments are made available to book through the NHS.

Around five million people in total are eligible for a booster until the end of June, with the first vaccinations taking place from Monday across 3,000 sites in England.

Eligible people include those aged 75 and over, and anyone aged five and over who has a weakened immune system, alongside the care home programme of vaccinations which began two weeks ago.

Over 725,000 Covid vaccination boosters remain available for this week, with more than 320,000 appointments already booked through the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme.

The NHS has issued 1.25 million invitations through the NHS app, where appointments can be made directly.

A further one million people will be asked to book a vaccine appointment this week if they are yet to do so.

Top scientists warn ‘the next pandemic is coming and we’re not ready’

Sunday 16 April 2023 22:36 , Eleanor Noyce

The UK is not ready for the next global pandemic because public services are being dismantled and key research is being defunded, experts have claimed.

More than three years after the global outbreak of coronavirus, top scientists have warned that the UK is no better prepared for a pandemic than it was in 2020.

They say another epidemic on the scale of Covid-19 is inevitable, but that disinvestment in infection-monitoring services, dismantling of key infrastructure, and the state of the NHS mean the country is “losing ground”.

The warning comes as virologists told The Independent that the new Covid-19 variant behind a surge of 10,000 new Covid cases a day in India may turn more aggressive, and could become the dominant strain in the UK.

The variant, first identified in January and known as Arcturus, has been found in 22 countries, including the UK and the US, and has prompted India to resume its production of vaccines.

Read the full story:

Top scientists warn ‘the next pandemic is coming and we’re not ready’

Industrial action will affect ‘recovery from Covid’, says NHS Providers deputy chief executive

Sunday 16 April 2023 22:48 , Eleanor Noyce

NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said strikes have had a “massive impact” on patients.

She told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “We know that there has been a massive impact on patients, disruption across the board and we know that there have been much higher risks on patient safety.”

Ms Cordery added that 330,000 procedures, operations and appointments have been cancelled so far - not including the impact from strikes in the past week.

She said industrial action will affect “recovery from Covid“, “staff morale” and “productivity”.

UK ‘losing ground’ over disinvestment in Covid research, expert warns

Sunday 16 April 2023 18:00 , Martha Mchardy

The UK is “losing ground” over government decisions to disinvest in research into Covid-19, an expert has warned as cases of the new Arcturus variant.

Professor Peter Horby, the lead for the groundbreaking Covid Recovery trial and head of the Pandemic Sciences Institute, also warned that the UK would be ill-prepared if a new pandemic were to hit in the coming years.

The Oxford professor said that, despite the government backing scientific work during Covid, disinvestment since means that the UK is now “losing ground”. He claimed that researchers on the Covid Recovery trial – which was launched in 2020 and has identified four treatments for the disease – are having to rely on philanthropic funds because there is no sustained investment.

“There were some good strategic moves by the UK government [in response to the pandemic], but I have been disappointed by what’s happened since then,” he said.

“What we’ve seen is there has been the discontinuation of funding of some of the jewels in the crown of the UK response, like the ONS survey, like the Covid Geonomics Consortium, like the Recovery trial ... the mothballing of the [Covid lab] facilities.

“Instead of building on the successes, [the government has] been dismantling the successes, and I find that a potential risk for the future.”

He added: “We may be back in the position that we saw ourselves in 2020, where we’ve got a new threat and we don’t have the diagnostics, the drugs, the vaccine, or the surveillance capabilities that we would desire.”

‘Nothing has changed’: Expert says world likely to see another virus outbreak on the same scale in the next 15 years

Sunday 16 April 2023 17:30 , Martha Mchardy

The world is likely to see another virus outbreak on the same scale in the next 15 years, a former government scientific adviser has warned.

Sir David King, a former chief scientific adviser to the government, who led the 2006 research that closely predicted the Covid pandemic told The Independent: “We’re in the same position as we were in 2020. Nothing has changed... if anything it has got worse.”

Sir David said the government had failed to invest in the NHS and he was in “no doubt” that it was in “a worse position than it was three years ago”.

The former government adviser added that, by failing to fund the health service or bolster Britain’s ability to respond to another pandemic, the government is “discounting the future”.

“That’s what the pandemic in 2020 proved: that we had jettisoned all of the processes that would have managed the epidemic. I see no signs of this being reversed at the moment,” he said.

“If you wait for the next epidemic, which I think is where the government may be now – if you wait until the next vaccine is developed, for whatever disease that is, it will take months and months for that vaccine to arrive. We cannot rely on that. We will have many, many cases, it’ll get really out of hand again, and then we’ll have hospitals completely overwhelmed by an outbreak of this kind.”

What is long Covid, what are the symptoms and how long does it last?

Sunday 16 April 2023 17:10 , Martha Mchardy

What is long Covid?

The NHS says of long Covid: “Most people with coronavirus (Covid-19) feel better within a few days or weeks of their first symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks. For some people, symptoms can last longer.

“This is called long Covid or post Covid-19 syndrome. Long Covid is a new condition which is still being studied.”

Medical professionals have identified two forms of the condition, drawing a distinction between ongoing symptomatic Covid, in which the symptoms last for four to 12 weeks, and post-Covid syndrome, which is said to have occurred if symptoms endure for over 12 weeks.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms listed by the health service are extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches.

However, long Covid appears to strike different patients in different ways and other reported symptoms include everything from problems with memory and concentration (or “brain fog”) to chest pain, difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness, pins and needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus and earaches, feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat and changes to sense of smell or taste and rashes.

Erectile dysfunction and hair loss have also been associated with long Covid in the past.

What help is available and how long can it take to recover?

The official advice is to seek a GP’s appointment if your symptoms persist four weeks after a negative test, at which point your doctor might seek further tests if your life is continuing to be impacted by your condition.

This might mean blood tests, checking your blood pressure and heart rate, a chest X-ray or measuring your oxygen levels, the NHS says.

Your doctor will discuss treatment options depending on your specific symptoms and their severity, with referral to a specialist a possibility in extreme cases.

As the condition is so variable, recovery can take place within a matter of days or take as long as 12 weeks or more.

Research is still being undertaken to resolve unanswered questions about long Covid, with Dr Marc Sala of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive Covid-19 Center telling The Guardian: “We don’t quite have our finger on the pulse of what’s wrong, what biologically is causing it, and that’s a big problem. It’s hard to direct drugs or treatments without having the biological underpinnings for why someone is feeling so fatigued with exercise.”

Doctors point out that, despite the global upheaval caused by the coronavirus, it is still a relatively young disease after three years, at least in research terms, so more time will be needed to truly understand its quirks, with the sheer number and variety of symptoms associated with it complicating the picture considerably.

That will be little comfort to long Covid sufferers, however, many of whom express frustration or dismay that others do not appear to believe that their condition is real or that they are exaggerating their discomfort.

Anyone suffering from long Covid is directed by the NHS to its Your Covid Recovery website for further help and support.

Top scientists warn ‘the next pandemic is coming and we’re not ready’

Sunday 16 April 2023 16:30 , Martha Mchardy

The UK is not ready for the next global pandemic because public services are being dismantled and key research is being defunded, experts have claimed.

They say another epidemic on the scale of Covid-19 is inevitable, but that disinvestment in infection-monitoring services, dismantling of key infrastructure, and the state of the NHS mean the country is “losing ground”.

Sir John Bell, a leading immunologist and a member of the UK’s Covid vaccine taskforce during the pandemic, said it was too easy to dismiss Covid-19 as a “once in a generation crisis”.

Writing in The Independent, he warned that it is “a question of when, not if, another pandemic strikes”, adding that the nation needs to adopt an “always on” approach that includes building a more resilient healthcare system, carrying out better surveillance, and identifying future threats.

“Despite everything we have learned, we are not ready for the next pandemic,” he wrote. “The next pandemic could be even more devastating than the last. We must be in a constant state of readiness for the next big health crisis – if we do not act now, we will not be forgiven.”

He referred to modelling that suggests there is a 38 per cent chance that another pandemic will happen within our lifetime, which would have “the potential to cause even greater destruction”.

Professor Teresa Lambe, one of the principal investigators leading the Oxford-AstraZeneca programme, said the UK had failed to take on board many “hard-learned lessons” from Covid. She warned that the public will be “sitting ducks” in a new pandemic if there are no further efforts by the government to invest in preparation.

She highlighted the government’s decision to “disband” tracking systems – including its “gold standard” Covid survey, the last remaining system used to monitor infections – as a sign that the country would not be fully prepared for another pandemic.

Writing in The Independent, she described such surveillance systems as “crucial” for identifying new variants, tracking case numbers and helping the UK to tackle any virus spread. She added: “We have learnt time and again that we need to track this virus carefully to distinguish if the current vaccine recommendations are enough.”

She added: “Without more of a concerted effort to work together and invest in pandemic preparedness, we are sitting ducks for the next virus.”

Rebecca Thomas and Thomas Kingsley report:

Top scientists warn ‘the next pandemic is coming and we’re not ready’

Why the world is unprepared if new Covid variant Arcturus proves deadly – in graphs

Sunday 16 April 2023 16:10 , Martha Mchardy

A new coronavirus variant is making headlines around the world, causing cases to rise and prompting warnings from scientists that it could soon be the dominant strain.

The Arcturus variant has led to a spike in infections in India, which recorded 11,109 new Covid infections on Friday – the biggest jump in almost a year – and it has now been found in 22 countries, including the UK, Singapore, Australia and the US.

A subvariant of Omicron, the XBB.1.16 strain is being studied by experts, who fear that its spike protein mutations could make it more aggressive. It causes novel symptoms in children, including conjunctivitis.

Nick Ferris reports:

Why the world is unprepared if new Covid variant proves deadly – in graphs

Most of the world has now ended Covid contact tracing, data shows

Sunday 16 April 2023 15:10 , Martha Mchardy

Most countries around the world no longer trace the contacts of those who are infected with Covid, data analysed by The Independent shows, meaning that they are unable to effectively follow and monitor the spread of any new outbreak.

At the end of 2022, the UK, France and Spain no longer carried out contact-tracing, while the US and Canada were only doing so in a few cases.

The UK government shut down the majority of its Covid surveillance programmes in the spring of 2022, even after experts warned that such a move might well be premature.

The data suggests the world would be unprepared if new the new Covid variant Arcturus proves deadly.

Arcturus: What is the new Covid variant causing a surge in cases

Sunday 16 April 2023 14:35 , Martha Mchardy

Daily Covid vaccinations have plunged 99% since June 2021

Sunday 16 April 2023 14:10 , Martha Mchardy

Daily Covid vaccinations have plunged 99% globally since June 2021, according to data analysed by The Independent.

The data suggests the world is unprepared if new the new Covid variant Arcturus proves deadly.

Daily Covid vaccinations around the world have dropped to around 250,000 doses per day.

Across the world, thousands of vaccine centres have shut, and vaccine manufacturing has also plummeted. It would take some time to turn these trends around.

Many countries, including the UK, have now stopped widespread vaccinations, and have instead offered booster shots to more targeted groups, such as older people and those who are immunocompromised.

While more than 5 billion people around the world have now received a Covid jab, vaccines do not remain 100 per cent effective for ever. One 2021 study reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that vaccine effectiveness against infection dropped from 91.8 per cent to 75 per cent in the state of New York over the space of just a few months.

The statistics come as around 30 per cent of the world’s population – largely in the global South – remains unvaccinated against the disease.

Voices: Will we ever reach a point where Covid is no longer a threat to our everyday lives?

Sunday 16 April 2023 13:30 , Martha Mchardy

Without more of a concerted effort to work together and invest in pandemic preparedness, we are sitting ducks for the next virus.

Teresa Lambe reports:

Opinion: Will we ever reach a point where Covid is no longer a threat?

Europe unprepared for new Covid strain as testing has plummeted to negligible levels, data shows

Sunday 16 April 2023 13:10 , Martha Mchardy

Europe would be unprepared if the new Arcturus Covid variant were to prove deadly as testing has been scaled back, data shows.

Data analysed by The Independent shows that many countries have significantly scaled back their Covid testing, meaning that many would be unprepared if the world were to be hit by another deadly Covid strain.

The latest testing data, as tracked by analysts at Oxford University’s Our World in Data project, shows that testing levels have plummeted, including in Europe, where testing has plummeted to negligible levels.

Testing fell from 613 daily tests per 1,000 people at the start of 2022 in Europe, to negligible levels by July of the same year.

Without testing, our understanding of Covid and its transmission is limited. Testing has given policymakers a window into how the virus spreads, and has allowed countries to impose measures to try to limit that spread, such as isolating those infected and tracing their contacts.

If a new deadly variant of Covid were to hit, high levels of testing would allow countries to make more targeted healthcare interventions, as opposed to implementing another costly, large-scale lockdown.

New Covid variant in India sign that ‘we’re not yet out of the woods,’ virologist says

Sunday 16 April 2023 12:10 , Martha Mchardy

Virologist Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick told The Independent that the rise of the new variant in India is a sign that “we’re not yet out of the woods”.

“We have to keep an eye on it,” he said. “When a new variant arises you have to find out if it’s more infectious, more disease-causing, is it more pathogenic?

“These kinds of things highlight the importance of genomic surveillance, but a lot of countries, including our own, have let our guard down a bit, and we can’t be sure what variants are around and what level of infection they’re causing until we see a significant outbreak.”

India records over 10,000 Covid cases and 23 deaths in a day

Sunday 16 April 2023 11:07 , Martha Mchardy

India recorded 10,093 Covid cases in the past 24 hours. It is the fourth consecutive day the country has recorded over 10,000 cases of the virus as the new Arcturus variant appears to be driving a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

The case count is about six per-cent lower than yesterday’s count of 10,747 infections, while 11,109 new Covid infections were recorded on Friday, the biggest jump in almost a year.

The surge in cases has prompted the country to resume vaccine production and sparked fears it could lead to a rise in cases in the UK and elsewhere.

India’s active caseload reached 57,542 on Sunday, while 23 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, taking the fatality rate to 1.19 per cent, according to the health ministry data.

Experimental drug could reduce fatigue in long Covid patients, study says

Sunday 16 April 2023 09:48 , Martha Mchardy

An experimental drug could significantly reduce fatigue in long Covid patients, according to a new study.

Scientists believe the drug, called AXA1125, could increase energy production in cells and reduce inflammation in people with the virus.

The small-scale clinical trial involving 41 patients was carried out by researchers at the University of Oxford.

The scientists involved in the study are now calling for larger studies to confirm the findings.

Participants were given either the AXA1125 drug or a dummy placebo treatment twice a day for four weeks.

The results, published in Lancet eClinical Medicin, showed those who received the drug reported significantly improved levels of fatigue.

Those who were given the AXA1125 drug were also able to walk further than those given the placebo.

Scans also showed the drug recipient’s mitochondria - the ‘power generators’ inside cells - were more likely to be in better health. However, this result was not statistically significant.

Associate Professor Betty Raman, the study’s principal investigator, said: “The reduction in patients’ own reports of fatigue is really positive news, and we hope that further work will help us understand the underlying processes behind this improvement too.

“There is still some way to go in treating all patients with long Covid.

“Our results focus specifically on fatigue, rather than the breathlessness and cardiovascular issues that other long Covid patients have reported.”

Disturbed sleep 'may explain Covid breathlessness'

Sunday 16 April 2023 08:48 , Tara Cobham

Disturbed sleep may partially explain the common long Covid complication of breathlessness, according to a UK study.

Researchers discovered that fitful sleep in patients hospitalised with Covid-19 was likely to be a driver of shortness of breath, also known as dyspnoea.

The study of patients in 38 hospitals around Britain was led by scientists from the University of Manchester and the University of Leicester.

The research team discovered that 62 per cent of participants who had been admitted to hospital for Covid had sleep disruption, which was likely to persist for at least 12 months.

The findings highlight for the first time the association between two post-Covid symptoms: breathlessness and sleep disruption.

Arcturus: New Covid variant sweeping India shows unique symptom in children

Sunday 16 April 2023 04:00 , Eleanor Noyce

A new Covid variant dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of fresh cases in India seems to have some unique symptoms in children, experts have pointed out.

The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US.

It is believed to be responsible for an uptick in infections in India, leading to the government adopting new measures to stop its spread, including bringing back some mask laws and running hospital drills.

India recorded 11,109 new cases on Friday, the country’s health ministry said, a sharp jump from 7,830 new Covid cases reported in the last 24 hours. The numbers reported are the highest in eight months with the active caseload surging to 49,622.

The spread of the strain, first detected in late January, is worrying experts, as it seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Latest Covid variant sweeping India shows unique symptom in children

Delhi logs 1,396 Covid cases on Saturday

Sunday 16 April 2023 02:00 , Eleanor Noyce

According to Delhi’s health department, the city logged 1,396 Covid cases on Saturday. The highest numbers in 15 months, The Times of India reports a positivity rate of 31.9%.

The Arcturus strain is believed to be responsible for an uptick in infections in India, leading to the government adopting new measures to stop its spread, including bringing back some mask laws and running hospital drills.

India recorded 11,109 new cases on Friday, the country’s health ministry said, a sharp jump from 7,830 new Covid cases reported in the previous 24 hours. The numbers reported are the highest in eight months with the active caseload surging to 49,622.

NHS England urges people aged 75+ or those with weakened immune system to book spring Covid booster

Sunday 16 April 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce

People aged 75 or above or those with a weakened immune system may now book their spring Covid vaccine.

NHS England has urged that those eligible can make an appointment through the NHS app, online or by calling 119.

Arcturus: How many cases of new variant are in UK?

Saturday 15 April 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce

A new Covid strain dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of infections in India has been detected in the UK.

First identified in January, Arcturus - also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 - has been monitored by the World Health Organisation since 22 March.

It has been detected in 22 countries, including in the UK, US and India, and research suggests that the strain could be 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.

The new strain is suspected to be behind a growing number of cases in India, with health authorities in Delhi recording 11,109 new Covid infections on Friday.

Although Arcturus has been detected in the UK, it is not spreading on the same scale - with the UKHSA saying that 66 cases have been recorded up to 11 April.

Read the full story:

Arcturus: How many cases of new variant are in UK?

New Covid variant sparks fear as India sees huge surge of infections

Saturday 15 April 2023 22:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

A new variant of Covid-19 named “Arcturus” is behind a fresh surge of infections in India.

The Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.16 strain is on the verge of devastating the country where cases have soared 13-fold in the last month.

India’s health ministry launched mock drills this week in an attempt to see if hospitals are prepared to deal with a possible influx of patients following the rise in cases.

Wearing face coverings in public has been made compulsory again in some states, being the first time in more than a year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently monitoring Arcturus, also known as XBB.1.16, which was first detected in late January, with officials saying it had some mutations of concern.

My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:

New Covid variant sparks fear as India sees huge surge of infections

Covid no longer: Leading cause of death in England and Wales revealed

Saturday 15 April 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

Covid-19 has dropped out of the top five leading causes of death in England and Wales for the first time since the start of the pandemic, figures show.

Coronavirus was recorded as the main cause of death for 22,454 people in 2022, or 3.9% of all deaths registered, making it the sixth leading cause overall.

In both 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 was the leading cause of death, with 73,766 deaths (12.1% of the total) and 67,350 (11.5%) respectively.

By contrast, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause in England and Wales in 2022, with 65,967 deaths registered (11.4% of the total), up from 61,250 (10.4%) in 2021.

The other causes in the top five were ischaemic heart diseases (59,356 deaths and 10.3% of the total); chronic lower respiratory diseases (29,815 deaths, 5.2%); cerebrovascular diseases such as strokes and aneurysms (29,274 deaths, 5.1%); and trachea, bronchus and lung cancer (28,571 deaths, 5.0%).

Read the full story:

Covid no longer: Leading cause of death in England and Wales revealed

Over-75s urged to get latest Covid-19 booster as hospital rates remain high

Saturday 15 April 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

People aged 75 and over are being urged to book a slot for a fresh coronavirus booster jab, with appointments available in England from Monday.

Covid-19 hospital admissions remain highest among over-75s, with the rate currently standing at 34.9 admissions per 100,000 people for 75-84 year-olds and 74.5 per 100,000 for those aged 85 and above.

Rates have fallen in recent weeks but are still well above those for other age groups.

Around five million people in England are eligible for the latest booster, including everyone aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents and those with a weakened immune system.

Some care homes have already been visited by vaccination teams, but the rollout of jabs begins in full next week.

Ian Jones reports:

Over-75s urged to get latest Covid-19 booster as hospital rates remain high

Arcturus: What do we know about the new Covid variant?

Saturday 15 April 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Noyce

In case you missed it...

A new Covid strain behind a surge of infections in India has sparked fears it could also lead to a rise in cases in the UK.

Research indicates Arcturus could be one 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.

Also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March.

Addressing Arcturus’s emergence at a press conference on 29 March, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid, said: “It’s been in circulation for a few months.

“We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that’s why we have these systems in place. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity.”

My colleague Joe Sommerlad reports:

What we know about the new Covid variant Arcturus

India restarts Covid vaccine production as new infections soar 30% in one day

Saturday 15 April 2023 18:00 , Eleanor Noyce

India is ramping up its vaccine production following a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases driven by a new subvariant dubbed Arcturus.

The country recorded 10,158 news Covid cases on Thursday, a 30 per cent surge in one day, according to the federal health ministry data.

The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US. It is believed to be responsible for the uptick in infections in India and seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, has restarted the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines, the chief executive Adar Poonawalla said.

Read the full story here:

India restarts Covid vaccine production as new infections soar 30% in one day

Arcturus: What are the symptoms of the new Covid variant?

Saturday 15 April 2023 17:00 , Martha Mchardy

Symptoms of the new Arcturus variant of the Covid-19 infection include high fever, cough, and “itchy” conjunctivitis or pinkeye, a paediatrician has said.

Vipin Vashishtha, a paediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunisation tweeted that “an infantile phenotype” of the variant seems to be emerging.

The symptoms of the variant include high fever, cough, and “itchy” conjunctivitis or pinkeye, Dr Vashishtha told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

Conjunctivitis – an eye infection causing redness, itchiness and swelling in the eyes – has previously been reported as a symptom of Covid, but not often, Richard Reithinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit research institute RTI International, was quoted as saying to Fortune.

Experts have also warned that the new variant seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Researchers at Nebraska Medicine’s Truhlsen Eye Institute identified the virus in the eye’s tear film, which could lead to conjunctivitis.

Dr Vashishtha, however, said in his tweet that he treated infants with “high fever, cold and cough, and non-purulent, itchy conjunctivitis w/ sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves”.

Other doctors have been seeing rising cases of Covid in children as well.

“Usually, these children come with simple respiratory infections of cough, cold and fever, and when tested they turn out to be positive,” paediatrician Dr Rahul Nagpal told India Today.

Dr Nagpal said the main symptoms of XBB.1.16 in adults resembled the flu, including a nasal discharge, sore throat and cough.

The Arcturus XBB.1.16 variant is a recombinant of two sub-variants of BA.2, and a preprint study from scientists at the University of Tokyo suggested that it spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than its relatives XBB.1 and XBB.1.5.

New Covid variant sweeping India shows unique symptom in children

Saturday 15 April 2023 16:00 , Martha Mchardy

A new Covid variant dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of fresh cases in India seems to have some unique symptoms in children, experts have pointed out.

The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US.

It is believed to be responsible for an uptick in infections in India, leading to the government adopting new measures to stop its spread, including bringing back some mask laws and running hospital drills.

The spread of the strain, first detected in late January, is worrying experts, as it seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Vipin Vashishtha, a paediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunisation tweeted that “an infantile phenotype” of the variant seems to be emerging.

The symptoms of the variant include high fever, cough, and “itchy” conjunctivitis or pinkeye, Dr Vashishtha told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

Conjunctivitis – an eye infection causing redness, itchiness and swelling in the eyes – has previously been reported as a symptom of Covid, but not often, Richard Reithinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit research institute RTI International, was quoted as saying to Fortune.

Mapped: Worst areas in UK for Covid cases amid fears over new Arcturus variant

Saturday 15 April 2023 15:00 , Martha Mchardy

England’s North East currently has the highest Covid infection rate of any UK region, according to new figures from the Zoe Health Study app.

Nearly 1.25 million people are currently thought to have symptomatic coronavirus in the UK, according to the Zoe Covid study, whose estimates are based on users self-reporting symptoms and test results.

This is down from a recent peak of nearly 1.5 million suspected symptomatic infections a fortnight ago, which itself was below previous highs of more than 1.6 million over New Year and in mid-October.

The ongoing study, run by King’s College London, found that rates of daily new symptomatic infections are highest in England’s North East, where there are potentially as many as 2,188 new daily cases per million people, based on data from Wednesday.

There are estimated to be up to 1,716 new cases per million in the West Midlands, which is followed closely by Scotland and the North West.

These infection rates contrast with an upper estimate of 1,301 new daily cases per million people in the South East. Overall, there were estimated to be more than 81,000 new symptomatic cases of Covid in the UK on Wednesday, according to Zoe app data.

The map below shows estimated rate of new daily symptomatic Covid cases per million people in each region, detailing the upper and lower range of the estimates, based on data from Wednesday:

Arcturus: How many cases of new variant are in UK?

Saturday 15 April 2023 14:00 , Martha Mchardy

A new Covid strain dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of infections in India has been detected in the UK.

First identified in January, Arcturus - also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 - has been monitored by the World Health Organisation since 22 March.

It has been detected in 22 countries, including in the UK, US and India, and research suggests that the strain could be 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.

The new strain is suspected to be behind a growing number of cases in India, with health authorities in Delhi recording 11,109 new Covid infections on Friday.

Although Arcturus has been detected in the UK, it is not spreading on the same scale - with the UKHSA saying that 66 cases have been recorded up to 11 April.

Comparatively, 57,842 overall Covid infections were recorded in the week up to Thursday, a 20 per cent drop from the previous seven days.

Eleanor Noyce reports:

Arcturus: How many cases of new variant are in UK?

Arcturus: What do we know about the new Covid variant?

Saturday 15 April 2023 13:00 , Martha Mchardy

A new Covid strain behind a surge of infections in India has sparked fears it could also lead to a rise in cases in the UK.

Research indicates Arcturus could be one 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.

Also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

What we know about the new Covid variant Arcturus

We may never know true origins of Covid, leading Chinese doctor says

Saturday 15 April 2023 11:59 , Martha Mchardy

We may never know the true origins of Covid-19, a Chinese doctor who helped lead the country’s pandemic response has said.

Dr George Fu Gao told The Telegraph he is “not optimistic” the origin of the virus will ever be known.

“It’s too sensitive; too politicised,” he said, adding: “We must focus on science.”

Dr Goa made the comments Rhodes Policy Summit on pandemic preparedness in London on Friday, also attended by former prime minister Tony Blair.

The Dr was leader of the Chinese Center for Disease Control when the Covid-19 virus first emerged in 2019.

He added: “there is no evidence which animals... the virus comes [from]”.

Indonesia detects two cases linked to Arcturus variant

Friday 14 April 2023 14:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Indonesia yesterday said it has detected two cases of the Arcturus variant of coronavirus in the country.

“So far, there are two cases (of Arcturus) that have been found,” health ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril confirmed in Jakarta.

The patients, whose infections were detected based on genome sequencing in the last week of March, experienced mild symptoms, officials said.

One of the patients, a 30-year-old woman, had no history of overseas travel and had received the first booster Covid-19 vaccine, CNN Indonesia reported.

Covid cases rising in Singapore

Friday 14 April 2023 14:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Singapore’s Covid-19 infections almost doubled in the final week of March to the highest this year, according to the federal health ministry.

Health minister Ong Ye Kung said that about three in 10 of the current cases were reinfections. The estimated number of daily infections rose from about 1,400 a month ago to 4,000 last week.

However, the minister assured that there is no evidence any of the current XBB strains caused more severe illness.

No evidence to prove Covid came from animals, says ex-head of China CDC

Friday 14 April 2023 13:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

There is no evidence as yet that proves the Covid-19-causing virus came from animals, George Gao, former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Mr Gao, who was speaking at a London summit on preparing for pandemics, was the head of the agency when Covid was first detected in Wuhan in China at the end of 2019.

“Even now, people think some animals are the host or reservoir,” he said. “Cut a long story short, there is no evidence which animals where the virus comes.”

New Covid variant Arcturus likely 1.2 times more infectious

Friday 14 April 2023 13:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The new variant of coronavirus, dubbed as Arcturus, is reportedly 1.2 times more infectious than the Kraken variant, according to a study by the University of Tokyo published on the biology research website bioRxiv.

Arcturus has been reported in several states in the US, including California, Washington, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Texas, New York Post reported.

“It’s been in circulation for a few months. We haven’t seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that’s why we have these systems in place,” Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead, said in late March.

“It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity,” she added.

Worst areas in UK for Covid cases amid fears over new variant

Friday 14 April 2023 12:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

England’s North East currently has the highest Covid infection rate of any UK region, according to new figures from the Zoe Health Study app.

Nearly 1.25 million people are currently thought to have symptomatic coronavirus in the UK, according to the Zoe Covid study, whose estimates are based on users self-reporting symptoms and test results.

This is down from a recent peak of nearly 1.5 million suspected symptomatic infections a fortnight ago, which itself was below previous highs of more than 1.6 million over New Year and in mid-October.

Andy Gregory has more.

Mapped: Worst areas in UK for Covid cases amid fears over new variant

India restarts Covid vaccine production

Friday 14 April 2023 12:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

India is ramping up its vaccine production following a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases driven by a new subvariant dubbed Arcturus.

Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, has restarted the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines, the chief executive Adar Poonawalla said.

The Pune-based company produces AstraZeneca vaccines under the label Covishield, which constitutes at least 70 per cent of the Covid vaccines administered in the country.

“Just as a precaution, we have done it so that people have Covishield as a choice if they want it,” Mr Poonawalla told the Press Trust of India.

More here.

India restarts Covid vaccine production as new infections soar 30% in one day

How many cases of new variant are in UK?

Friday 14 April 2023 11:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A new Covid strain dubbed Arcturus which is driving a surge of infections in India has been detected in the UK.

Although Arcturus has been detected in the UK, it is not spreading on the same scale – with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) saying that 66 cases have been recorded up to 11 April.

Comparatively, 57,842 overall Covid infections were recorded in the week up to Thursday, a 20 per cent drop from the previous seven days.

Eleanor Noyce reports.

Arcturus: How many cases of new variant are in UK?

Covid no longer: Leading cause of death in England and Wales revealed

Friday 14 April 2023 11:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Covid-19 has dropped out of the top five leading causes of death in England and Wales for the first time since the start of the pandemic, figures show.

Coronavirus was recorded as the main cause of death for 22,454 people in 2022, or 3.9 per cent of all deaths registered, making it the sixth leading cause overall.

In both 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 was the leading cause of death, with 73,766 deaths (12.1 per cent of the total) and 67,350 (11.5 per cent) respectively.

More here.

Covid no longer: Leading cause of death in England and Wales revealed

World’s largest vaccine maker ramps up production

Friday 14 April 2023 10:18 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive of Serum Institute of India (SII) told The Independent in a statement that the company has “resumed the production of the Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, in response to the increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 virus infections.”

“The company also has six million doses of the Covovax vaccine, which are readily available to private hospitals depending on the demand and can also be used as heterologous booster doses,” he added.

“The company has taken this precautionary measure to ensure that people have the option of Covishield if they choose.”

Stuti Mishra reports.

Doctors urge caution: ‘This is one to watch’

Friday 14 April 2023 09:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert based at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that the variant is unlikely to cause a big wave.

“I suspect we will see a wave of infections with this variant,” professor Hunter said. “I doubt it will cause a big wave, probably not even as great as the one we have just had in the UK.”

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist from the University of Warwick, told The Independent that the cases need to be monitored.

“These kinds of things highlight the importance of genomic surveillance but a lot of countries including our own have let our guards down a bit.

“And we can’t be sure what variants are around and what level of infection they are causing until we see a significant outbreak.”

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on Covid, said, “this is one to watch”. She added that health experts haven’t seen “a change in severity in individuals or in populations”.

India records highest number of cases in months

Friday 14 April 2023 09:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

India on Friday recorded 11,109 new Covid infections, the biggest rise in cases for almost a year. The country currently has 49,622 active cases, according to the federal health ministry.

The southern state of Kerala reported 3,420 cases, while the capital Delhi and Maharashtra in the west logged 1,159 and 1,115 cases respectively.

There were 29 Covid-related deaths recorded in 24 hours.

Fears new ‘Arcturus’ Covid variant could become dominant in UK

Friday 14 April 2023 08:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Virologist Dr Stephen Griffin from the University of Leeds said Arcturus is growing at a faster rate than other variants and is “rapidly outcompeting” others in India.

He added that the new variant, which is now spreading globally, is particularly concerning because of limitations in genomic sequencing and tracking, leaving the UK “completely in the dark” after it stopped publishing ONS Covid case figures last month.

So far in the UK, Arcturus accounts for just 0.4 per cent of cases, according to the GISAID virus sequencing database – but that proportion is expected to increase considerably.

“Arcturus has a growth advantage of about 1.2 compared to what we’ve had recently,” Dr Griffin told The Independent.

“It’s conceivable it could outcompete what we’ve had recently but there are other variants in the mix so it’s hard to know which one will become dominant.”

Thomas Kingsley reports.

Fears new ‘Arcturus’ Covid variant could become dominant in UK

What are the symptoms of the new Covid variant?

Friday 14 April 2023 08:31 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The XBB.1.16 strain, a sub-variant of Omicron, has been found in 22 countries, including Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US.

The variant, dubbed Arcturus, is believed to be responsible for an uptick in infections in India, leading to the government adopting new measures to stop its spread.

The spread of the strain, first detected in late January, is worrying experts, as it seems to exhibit unique symptoms in children, one of which is conjunctivitis.

Vipin Vashishtha, a paediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunisation tweeted that “an infantile phenotype” of the variant seems to be emerging.

The symptoms of the variant include high fever, cough, and “itchy” conjunctivitis or pinkeye, she said.

Stuti Mishra reports.

Latest Covid variant sweeping India appears to have this new symptom