Covid on the rise as experts say England has ‘capitulated’ to the virus

Experts are pushing for an increase in lateral flow testing and a more widespread rollout of vaccination boosters as the new Covid variant XEC is expected to become prevalent over the winter. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Covid is on the rise in England, and experts have warned that more must be done to prevent and control infections after a “capitulation to the virus”.

Prof Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said those working in the field were perplexed by the current attitude to the battle against Covid, as the latest figures showed an increase in hospital admissions.