The hit Barbie movie has been blamed for sparking a new Covid ‘pinkdemic’.

Punters are flocking to see the summer blockbuster along with packed cinemas for Oppenheimer.

And experts have speculated that the “Barbenheimer effect” is a factor in the latest Covid variant sweeping Britain.

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In the States, 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?”

And other experts are stating that the theory may have some merit.

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, said that “increased cinema attendance” as well as “more indoor mixing” due to bad weather may have contributed towards a rise in cases.

He added: “The EG.5.1 variant does appear to be spreading more efficiently in various Asian countries and is accounting for more infections in the UK.

“There is no evidence that this variant is more dangerous in causing severe disease."

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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 university degree congregations and increased cinema attendance.

“Overall levels of infection remain low but this is a wake up call stressing that we can’t be complacent when it comes to Covid.“

We need to keep an eye on the emergence of variants and be vigilant as we prepare for an inevitable increase in infections over the autumn/winter.”

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