Is there a summer Covid wave?
There has been a slight increase in the number of Covid cases in England.
There is some speculation about a "summer Covid wave" right now. We all seem to know someone who has had it recently, or a buddy who has been out sick.
But have instances actually increased, and are there any new varieties we should be concerned about? What else do we know now?
Is there a rise in infections?
Possibly, although it's impossible to say.
We do know there has been a very slight rise in the number of persons admitted to the hospital with Covid.
In the week ending June 16, the number of admissions per 100,000 increased to 3.31, up from 2.67 the previous week.
The majority of those hospitalized with Covid were over the age of 85.
It is impossible to determine how many people have Covid and stay at home.
We no longer collect national data in the same way that we used to since testing is much less common now.
This means that many Covid instances are not being reported.
The data we do have is based on laboratory tests performed across the country, most notably swabs taken from patients in the healthcare system.
According to the data, around one in every 25,000 people had Covid on June 26.
This may appear to be a large number, but it is small in comparison to what we witnessed at the outset of the pandemic. In March 2020, it was one in thirteen.
However, Covid rates fluctuate throughout the year and are not always cause for alarm.
Prof Paul Hunter, an epidemiology expert at the University of East Anglia, told the BBC that he did not think the current Covid rates were worrying.
"I think we're probably seeing about as much infection this year as we were seeing last year - a little bit less, but not hugely less.
" He feels that overall, we are seeing substantially fewer deaths and hospitalizations from Covid than last year.
Is there a new Covid variant?
In recent months, we've seen a new category of Covid variations develop, known as FLiRT.
Among these are the prevalent JN1 and KP2 variants. They are responsible for several current Covid cases in England. The KP3 variation, which has resulted in an increase in cases in the United States, has also been detected in modest numbers in the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated that it needed "more data" on the new variations to determine how serious and transmissible they could be.
The body in charge of public health also stated that it was "impossible" to determine at this time whether these variances were to blame for the minor increase in hospital admissions.
As with all novel strains, the UKHSA stated that it would "continue to monitor these variants" in the UK and worldwide, gathering additional information on how well the vaccines protect individuals against them.
However, the FDA stated that there are no current changes to public health guidance.
It is typical for viruses to adapt and mutate, and the UKHSA reports that the healthcare system is still "getting to grips" with the ebb and flow of infections.
Prof Hunter stated that Covid was now a part of life and should no longer be considered frightening.
He went on: "We are all of us going to get repeated Covid infections from births through to death.
"Overall, we've noticed that the severity of Covid-related sickness has decreased significantly over the previous three to four years.
"Ultimately, it's going to become another cause of the common cold and, for many people, that's what it is now.
" He elaborated: "To be honest, you can't really avoid it because it's so common."
Have the Covid symptoms changed?
The UKHSA reports that the official list of Covid symptoms has remained unchanged.
General symptoms may include:
- Warm weather or shivering.
- New, chronic cough.
- Loss or modification in your senses of smell and taste
- Shortness of breath.
- Feeling tired or drained.
- Achy body.
- Headache
- Sore throat.
- Blocked or runny nose.
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling or being unwell.
What are the current rules for Covid?
There are no longer any legal requirements for Covid patients to self-isolate. There is no need to take a lateral flow test, and masks are not required.
However, the government recommends staying at home and avoiding contact with others for five days after testing positive.
persons should also avoid interacting with persons who are more likely to become extremely ill if they contract Covid, such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
"If you have Covid-19 or flu symptoms, please stay at home and avoid contact with others, especially those who are more vulnerable," urged Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist with the UKHSA.
