While many of us have been celebrating the Christmas period with our nearest and dearest, it seems plenty of Brits have had to hunker down with their latest bout of Covid. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) released enlightening data regarding the current situation in the UK.
The Winter CIS (Winter Coronavirus Infection Study) estimates that one in 24 people in England and Scotland could be infectious with Covid right now.
Professor Steven Riley, Director General for Data and Surveillance, UKHSA, commented on the findings.
Professor Riley said: “At this time of year, the cold weather, shorter days and increased socialising mean that the potential for transmission of respiratory viruses like Covid is particularly high.
“This, as well as the possible impact of new variants, means it’s not unexpected to see cases increasing.”
Professor Riley advised people presenting symptoms of Covid “should try to limit contact with other people as much as possible”.
The professor urged those most at risk of severe illness to come forward for their seasonal Covid vaccination.
He elaborated: “You can get a vaccine through your GP, by booking with a local NHS vaccination service, or you can find a Covid vaccination walk-in site.”
Eligibility for Covid vaccine:
- Aged 65 years or over (by 31 March 2024)
- Aged six months to 64 years and are at increased risk
- Living in a care home for older adults
- A frontline health or social care worker
- Aged 16 to 64 years and are a carer
- Aged 12 to 64 years and live with someone with a weakened immune system
The latest anybody can get their seasonal Covid vaccination is January 31, 2024.
The UKHSA reported an increase of Covid infections by 36 percent in the seven days leading up to December 13, 2023.
Moreover, the number of patients admitted to hospital because of Covid increased by more than 27 percent in the week leading up to December 8, 2023.
According to the Winter CIS report, the prevalence of Covid contamination is based on self-reported lateral flow device results from approximately 150,000 participants.
This means the prevalence of Covid cases across the UK could be much higher.
A new Winter CIS report will be available on January 11, which will document a clearer picture of how Covid could have ravaged through the population during Christmas.
This will be followed by another report on January 18 and will revert to fortnightly thereafter.
Symptoms of Covid can 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.
Covid testing is not mandatory but lateral flow tests are still available to purchase in pharmacies.
