The initial instance of the COVID-19 variant BA.2.86 has been identified in the UK, as confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Friday. This novel variant was found in an individual without recent travel history.
On the preceding day, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced their monitoring of this highly mutated version of the COVID-causing virus.
The variant has also been spotted in Israel, Denmark, and the United States.
As of September 23, 2022, data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that there were 186,276 deaths linked to COVID-19 registered in England and Wales. This encompasses instances where COVID-19 was mentioned on death certificates, irrespective of its role as an underlying cause.
The UK Health Security Agency’s data reveals 30,818 COVID-19-related deaths in the UK in 2022 up to the week ending on September 23, 2022, with 26,756 in England and Wales. The UK now stands as the seventh nation to exceed 150,000 reported deaths, joining the ranks of the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico, and Peru.
