The researchers also found that people infected with Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and the flu virus were more than four times more likely to need ventilation support and 2.4 times more likely to need it. to die than if they just had Covid -19. “We have found that the combination of Covid-19 and influenza viruses is particularly dangerous,” said Professor Kenneth Baillie of the University of Edinburgh. “We expect Covid-19 to be released with the flu, increasing the chance of co-infections. “That’s why we need to change our testing strategy for Covid-19 patients in the hospital and test for the flu much more broadly.” The study looked at more than 305,000 Covid-19 patients and involved researchers from the University of Edinburgh, the University of Liverpool, Imperial College London and the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. A total of 6,965 patients were found to have Covid-19, while 227 also had the flu virus. These individuals showed significantly more serious results, researchers found. “We were surprised that the risk of death more than doubled when people became infected with both the flu and Covid-19 viruses,” said Professor Calum Semple of the University of Liverpool. “It is now very important that people are fully vaccinated and vaccinated against the two viruses and not leave it until it is too late.” This point was made by Professor Peter Openshaw at Imperial College London. “The vaccines that protect against Covid-19 and the flu are different and people need both. “The way these two infections are treated is also different, so it is important to get tested for other viruses even when you have been diagnosed with a respiratory infection.” The scientists’ warning comes as it was revealed that more than 600,000 people will be invited for a Covid-19 booster vaccine this week, as infection levels approach record highs in England. About one in 16 people in private households in England – or 3.5 million people – are likely to have Covid by the week of March 19, according to the National Statistics Office (ONS). This is higher than one in 20 – or 2.7 million people – in the past seven days and is the third consecutive week that infections are estimated to have increased. Since the spring aid was released last week, more than 470,000 people have come for the piercing, NHS England reported. It asks people to wait for an invitation before attempting to make a reservation, with the Joint Vaccination and Immunization Committee recommending that eligible individuals get their vaccine six months after their initial boost for maximum effectiveness. About 5.5 million people in England over the age of 75 or immunocompromised will be able to receive the souvenir. Researchers say the sharp rise in infections in much of the country is due to the Omicron BA.2 variant, a more contagious form of Omicron. The evidence is further evidence that Covid-19 is rapidly becoming more prevalent in the UK and is coming as the number of people being treated for the virus continues to rise. The percentage of people tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK has increased across all age groups and regions, according to the ONS. Infection rates among those over 70 remain at their highest level since estimates began in the UK in May 2020, with around one in 20 (5%) likely to have the virus, one in 30 each week (3, 5%). However, Covid-19 remains the most common among young children. About one in 12 (8.3%) of people between the ages of two and school year 6 are estimated to have had coronavirus last week, up from one in 16 (6.3%).