Lockdowns have become a reality during the Covid-19 pandemic, and as the winter holidays approach, many wonder how they will be spending them. The U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes there is no need for a lockdown during Christmas, despite the surge of Covid-19 cases. Last Christmas, many families were not able to meet and spend time together during the lockdown.
Booster jabs could help control the new infection wave
Boris Johnson declared that for those who worry about the cold season and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the best chance of protection is to get the third jab. Residents can even go to walk-in vaccination sites to receive their booster jabs. The NHS is working hard to provide vaccination sites and administer doses to all those willing.
For a person to be eligible for a third dose, at least six months need to have passed since the second Covid-19 vaccine jab. Around 7,925,851 people received booster jabs in the U.K, sources mention. Yesterday, over 38,000 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported, and 74 people died. At the same time, over 45.7 million people in the U.K are fully vaccinated, which can explain the low number of virus-related deaths. In the U.K, there are four Covid-19 vaccines used for immunization: Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and AstraZeneca.
The cold season is associated with a surge of respiratory infections.
During the cold season, respiratory illnesses such as colds or the flu are much more common. Health experts believe that part of the reason is that people spend more time in closed spaces, and viruses spread easier this way. Only doctors can determine what kind of respiratory illness a person has, and sometimes many of them can trigger similar symptoms such as fever and cough.
The good news is that the U.K government is not planning to impose a new Christmas lockdown if the number of deaths and hospitalizations remains stable.