COVID-19: UK may be past the 'last great peak' of infections

The total number of daily coronavirus cases have been on a steady decline, and a recent study suggests that the UK may have passed their last peak in infections for the year. The Zoe COVID study, which tracks both symptoms and number of cases, revealed that symptomatic cases had dropped by 4.7% compared to the last week.

Decrease in cases

Furthermore, the biggest driving force of the current wave was a high rate of infections within the young population and that too seems to be slowing down. Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist in the ZOE team, confirmed:

Young people have been driving the big numbers of cases, and the big numbers look from our data to have finished.

As reported by the Mirror, Professor Spector mentioned that the UK may have gotten over the 'last great peak' of the year. But he also warned that the battle was far from over, especially given that cases have been rising in those above the age of 55. He said:

It’s great that we’re finally seeing cases start to come down, and hopefully we’re over the last great peak of Covid in 2021.

It is still worrying that cases in the older, more vulnerable age group are increasing, but as the booster programme continues to roll out we’re likely to see this come down as well.

High COVID rates going into the winter

He, along with a number of other experts, believe that as of now the transmission, hospitalisation, and death rates are still quite high going into the winter months. He added:

As the temperatures drop and winter comes we’re still seeing far too much Covid in the community leading to high Long Covid and hospitalisation rates compared to other countries in Western Europe.

With high rates of other viral respiratory illnesses too (although no flu yet), there is no room for complacency.