Eris: could this new COVID variant lead to the return of health restrictions?

Covid-19 and the severe health measures that accompanied it appear to be behind us. But despite this respite over the last several months, the number of cases began increasing over the summer.

The resurgence of the epidemic is, however, difficult to assess, as some countries, such as France, no longer have the tools used daily at the height of the pandemic, such as the positivity rate or the reproduction rate.

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Furthermore, health monitoring has been simplified in most countries since the end of the pandemic.

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According to the CDC, in the United States Eris is responsible for 22% of all new COVID infections. According to the Independent, data collected from the UK shows that COVID infections increased by 200,000 in August alone.

It is a new variant, EG.5.1, commonly known as "Eris", which is currently in circulation and spreading rapidly in Europe and North America.

First identified at the beginning of the year, this form of Covid has been classified as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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According to WHO data cited by Euronews, its prevalence rose from 7.6% of Covid cases worldwide at the end of June to 17.4% at the end of July. A very rapid increase in just a few weeks!

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The indicators that are still used point to an increase in the number of cases and associated health problems.

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Eris is therefore starting to cause damage, even if the situation is less worrying than in the worst moments of the pandemic. But what do we know about this variant?

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At present, EG.5.1 does not appear to cause symptoms that are atypical or more severe than previous variants.

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The WHO considers it to pose a rather low risk to public health due to its proximity to other variants. But it could lead to an increase in the number of cases if it becomes dominant among different forms of Covid.

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However, it cannot be ruled out that this new variant escapes immunity largely acquired from past infections and vaccination campaigns.

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“Eris” is not the only type of Covid circulating in late summer 2023. A new sub-variant of Omicron, called BA.2.86 (or “Pirola”), is already active in several countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Israel, Denmark.

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Will we see the return of drastic health measures such as lockdown or mandatory masks? While it's too early to tell, it seems unlikely at this point.

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Andrea Garcia, the vice-president of the American Medical Association for science, medicine, and public health told The Washington Post that “There’s currently no evidence to suggest that it causes more-severe illness.” Nonetheless, most doctors still recommend COVID boosters especially for the most vulnerable.

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According to The Washington Post, in the United States, like in many other countries, health officials are preparing  to administer booster doses of coronavirus vaccines made with a new formula targeting the XBB subvariants that have accounted for most infections in 2023.

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According to some specialists, improving air filtration in closed and crowded public places (public transport, offices, restaurants, hospitals, etc.) is another tool to combat the spread of the virus.

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Should we expect a surge in cases and hospitalizations? Experts are reassuring, but as Rowland Kao, an epidemiologist quoted by 'Euronews', points out, "the number of hospital admissions, combined with what we regularly expect from the flu, could still cause us real difficulties". The risks associated with Covid-19 have not yet disappeared!

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