![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/covid-variant-dubbed-eris-sweeps-uk-theres-a-surprising-reason-cases-are-up/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/newspress-collage-23353547-1691163033655.jpg&description=FEEL THE STRAIN Published : 16:31, 4 Aug 2023 Updated : 16:32, 4 Aug 2023 COVID cases have once again crept up in the UK, with a new variant dubbed Eris - after the Greek goddess of discord and strife - gaining dominance. With hospital admission numbers also being nudged upwards, experts have speculated that the so-called 'Barbenheimer effect' could be behind them. 3 Experts speculated that the recent rise in UK Covid-19 cases could be due to the 'Barbenheimer' effect Credit: Alamy 3 Cases have slowly started creeping up after the release of the two movies Credit: UKHSA 3 More cases have been seen across all age groups Credit: UKHSA The concurrent release of Barbie and Oppenheimer two weekends ago pushed Brits to the cinema in droves. The social media frenzy around the cinematic event of the year had experts speculating that Covid infections could rise as the films opened to the public on July 21. In the US, Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, tweeted: "Not to be a Debbie Downer...but anyone worried about a post-Barbie Box Office Covid bump? Or post-Oppie?" Speaking to MailOnline, virologist at Warwick University Professor Lawrence Young said theory had some credence. With the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimating that Covid infections rose by 5.4 per cent in the week leading up to July 31, he told the paper that 'increased cinema attendance' and 'more indoor mixing' due to bad weather may have contributed. But he emphasised that there was 'no evidence' that the new Eris variant - which now makes up one in seven UK cases - is more dangerous or causes more severe disease. Dr Young explained: "The rise in cases in the UK is probably due to waning protective immunity — it's some time since people received their last booster jabs and/or were previously infected — and to increased mixing in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces. "Poor weather over the last month has meant more indoor mixing including during various events such as unive){kind=link}
COVID cases have once again crept up in the UK, with a new variant dubbed Eris – after the Greek goddess of discord and strife – gaining dominance.
With hospital admission numbers also being nudged upwards, experts have speculated that the so-called ‘Barbenheimer effect’ could be behind them.
The concurrent release of Barbie and Oppenheimer two weekends ago pushed Brits to the cinema in droves.
The social media frenzy around the cinematic event of the year had experts speculating that Covid infections could rise as the films opened to the public on July 21.
In the US, Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, tweeted: “Not to be a Debbie Downer…but anyone worried about a post-Barbie Box Office Covid bump? Or post-Oppie?”