The peak of the summer wave of Covid has passed, according to Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, but what’s coming next will be ‘more serious.’
In the midst of the summer increase in infection, a new variant was found and named Centaurus. There is not a lot of information available on the new strain, however, experts have warned that it could be more transmissible than anything seen before.
Despite this, Varadkar confirmed that hospital numbers are decreasing and said this has happened without the need for new restrictions.
Read More: Covid cases in Ireland appear to be falling again as Ireland weathers summer wave of Covid-19
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Encouraging to see #covid hospital numbers falling. The peak of the summer wave has passed thankfully without any need for restrictions. Hospitals have been very busy. Preparing now for the winter wave.”
Following on from this, the Tanaiste said that a winter wave is likely and while they prepare for that there are a number of things that will be necessary to curb a major spreading of the virus.
“Winter wave likely to be more serious and coincide with flu season. Vaccines, ventilation, surveillance, capacity, and good public health measures are all important,” he said.
Meanwhile, health experts and virologists across the globe have begun voicing their concern over the latest strain of Covid-19 due to its yet-unknown potential to wreak havoc.
Centaurus is the latest substrain of the fast-spreading Omicron variant and is rapidly spreading in India as well as making ground in the United Kingdom in recent weeks.
The BA.2.75 variant, or Centaurus, was first detected in India in early May and after arriving in the UK, cases there have been moving in s sharp upward trend - faster than those of the extremely transmissible BA.5 variant.
BA.2.75 has also since been detected in at least ten other countries so far, including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Germany, and Canada.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has placed Centaurus in the category of a “variant under monitoring” - meaning there is a worry that it could be more transmissible or bring on more severe disease.
At this point, the evidence is still being gathered and assessed, however, the World Health Organisation is also closely monitoring it.
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