A new wave of COVID-19 disease has begun in Europe, causing a number of new problems.

According to The Guardian, in the UK, the incidence of the disease began to increase back in September. The National Statistics Service reported that 857,400 people were ill in England in the week to September 17. A week earlier it was 766,500. Also sickness rate was growing in Wales. People in the southwest of the country began to seek medical help more often: since mid-September the figure has risen by 250%. Similar dynamics are in several other European countries.

According to Ars Technica, the rise in disease incidence is due to several reasons. Because of the cold, people are more likely to be indoors, where it is easier to get infected. Schools and universities have started their school year. Immunity after vaccination or illness gradually weakens. People rarely wear masks; restrictions have been lifted.

The dominant variant of the coronavirus remains the Omicron variant BA.5, but several new mutations at once are causing concern: Laboratory experiments show that the new Omicron variant overcomes the first lines of immune system protection better than its predecessors.

Maria van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization believes that the spread and modification of the coronavirus around the world is being monitored without the previous vigilance, and this is cause for concern. The virus is evolving and widespread. There can be no doubt that there will be new waves of disease.