Covid cases are climbing across the UK spurred by concerning new variants like XEC, health officials have confirmed. Covid-19 incidence is going up on ‘most indicators’, according to the most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency.
Hospitalisations have jumped to 4.55 per 100,000, a noticeable increase from the rate of 3.72 per 100,000 the week before – and with 59 Covid-19 ‘acute respiratory incidents’ flagged in the report, the sense of urgency is palpable.
As reported by the Mirror, positivity for the virus has reached its peak in senior citizens aged 85 and above. The North East of England is grappling with the steepest hospital admission rates at 8.12 per 100,000, while those aged 85 and older face an even more alarming admission rate surge, reaching 52.48 per 100,000 as opposed to 40.39 the prior week.
On Thursday, Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, leading Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said in a statement: “Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks. As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you’re eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.
“We understand people may be concerned about new variants. Our surveillance shows that where covid cases are sequenced, around 1 in 10 are the ‘XEC’ lineage. Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely. The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible.”
For those feeling unwell he said: “If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid-19 such as a high temperature, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.”
The NHS is asking people to isolate if possible as the fears that the XEC new strain might become the predominant variety. They said: “While isolation rules are no longer mandatory, you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test”, and to give a wide berth to those most at risk for a full ten days after a positive result.
Data today from the UK Health Security Agency shows an increase of 2.8 per cent in overall Covid diagnoses, hot on the heels of a 21.6 per cent spike recorded in England just the week before.
In the week leading up to October 2, England and Wales saw an increase in Covid cases with 2,912 new infections reported – that’s a jump of 78 from the previous week. There were also 128 Covid-related fatalities in the week before September 27.
Furthermore, hospitalisations due to Covid stood at 2,622 in the seven days to September 28. The NHS advices those with symptoms to stay home to avoid spreading the virus, stating: “You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature,” and “If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.”
Covid’s XEC variant shares similar symptoms with other strains, which may include:
- A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick.
What to do if you have Covid symptoms
Even if you don’t take a Covid test, the NHS has recommended that you try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms and either:
- Have a high temperature
- Or do not feel well enough to go to work, school or do your normal activities.
“You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature,” the NHS says on its website. “If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.”
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