By Thomas Carter

Fear has gripped the nation this week amid concerns of a new Covid-19 variant that could bring tighter restrictions leading up to Christmas.

Coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 (now labelled Omicron) was recently discovered by South African scientists, with 22 cases already confirmed in the UK.

As a result, the government has made the third ‘booster’ Covid-19 vaccine available for all adults, in the hope it will lead to a larger percentage of the country to be protected against the latest variant.

Similarly to the initial vaccine rollout, adults will become eligible for their booster jab in grouped age bands, with the gap between vaccinations being reduced from six months to three.

Philippa Blakeley, 21, an International Relations MA student at De Montfort University, said: “I will be having a booster jab as soon as I am able to.

“For me personally, getting a booster jab is the best way to keep any form of normality within the country, enabling us to see friends and family.

“Speaking as someone who is enjoying the return to ‘more like normal’, my mental health could not cope with another lockdown. 

“Similarly, I think the wider impacts of the lockdowns on people’s mental health and also on their education is something we have failed to fully try and understand throughout the course of the pandemic.”

As with all Covid-19 variants, there is the danger of mutation that results in a strain evading the current vaccines, which would pose major problems in the country’s fight against the pandemic.

In addition to making the booster jab more widely available, the government has reintroduced mandatory face covering rules for indoor settings including retail shops, secondary schools and on public transport.

Philippa continued: “I definitely feel safer when wearing a face mask, and while numbers are high, or with the risk of the new variant, I am more than happy to wear one if it means I am able to continue doing the things I enjoy.”

As of Sunday (NOV28), vaccine uptake records show that 89 per cent of the population have received their first dose, 81 per cent have received their second dose, and 31 per cent have had the third booster jab.

Latest government data also shows that in the last 24 hours the UK recorded 39,716 positive cases and 159 deaths (statistics correct as of NOV30).

For advice on the new Omicron variant and to book a vaccination visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

by Abigail Beresford

People across Leicestershire are being encouraged to have the coronavirus vaccine, to protect them from the virus, as cases rise again across the county.

More than 1,300 cases were recorded in Leicester, the week commencing November 8, and 185 positive cases recorded on November 15.

There are worries in the community that cases are set to further rise again in December, with events occurring during the run up to Christmas.

Pop-up vaccination centres are being put in place across the county, to provide residents a place in which they can have easy access to the vaccine and contribute towards the fight against coronavirus.

Residents are able to receive their first dose, second dose and booster of the vaccine at the drop-in centres.

Last week, DMU students and staff were encouraged to attend a pop-up Covid-19 vaccination centre that was being held at the King Power Stadium.

The pop-up centre at the stadium ran from November 12-14, to give people time to make the decision to come down and visit. 

The stadium had queues of people waiting to receive either their first, second, or booster vaccine to protect themselves from the virus.

“I’m petrified of needles, but I knew that I needed to have the vaccine to make myself feel a bit safer as the cases are rising and to protect those around me,” said Charlie Atkinson, a third-year Textiles student at De Montfort University.

“After receiving my second dose, it felt like a weight had been taken off my shoulders.”

Over 68 per cent of the UK population are now fully vaccinated, with 110 million doses having been administered.

“There’s a lot of fake news that was surrounding the vaccine, which really made me worry. However, after speaking with a GP I felt much more reassured about it,” said Mitchell Ryan, a second-year Photography student at De Montfort University.

To find out details about other pop-up clinics taking place across Leicestershire, visit https://www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk/my-health/coronavirus-advice/coronavirus-vaccine/.

By Kira Gibson

In the month of October 2020, Leicester had just come out of lockdown, but there were still restrictions in place.

Both the city’s universities had brought in a blended learning environment for students, and the rate of Coronavirus throughout the city skyrocketed as the month went on.

Students tried to socialise with one another and get work done in class which unfortunately helped the Covid-19 rate across the city rise.

The rate per 100,000 people rose as well, leading to another lockdown (tier 3, and then tier 4) for the city and county.

In the month of October 2021, the entire country has been out of lockdown for several months, with few, if any restrictions still in place.

The Leicester Covid-19 rate however seems to stay the same, with roughly 1,000 or more cases each week.

Since university students have been back on campus, as both universities have allowed most students to learn face-to-face with a few classes still being online at teachers’ discretion, the rate of Covid-19 has not fallen yet.

The rate per 100,00 people has been rising as well, but still under the country’s rate per 100,000.