Covid’s new summer strain and what to do if you catch it
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The Euros are in full flow, Wimbledon is coming and we are on the brink of a General Election. We’ve long stopped wearing masks and abiding the rules of staying 2m apart but with summer socialising at full kilter and a summer Covid wave known as the “FLiRT” variant “building”, should we be rethinking our plans if we notice a sniffle?
Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, says:
“There is a widespread impression of a growing 2024 summer wave, much as we saw in 2021 when (coincidently perhaps) there was also a Euros football tournament, and evidence that this contributed significantly to the spread of infection.
“The waves continue to be driven by a combination of new variants and a partial waning immunity to infection,” says Prof Woolhouse, author of The Year The World Went Mad. “For now, we have to expect this pattern to continue.”
Chris Smith is a medical consultant specialising in clinical microbiology and virology at Cambridge University, and is the host of the Naked Scientists podcast, says we shouldn’t panic. “The numbers do appear to be up, but are not necessarily higher than they were at this time last year. Possibly lower overall, but there appears to be a relative uptick overall recently.
“There’s no evidence people are “iller”. We’re seeing cases in hospitals “with” the virus, chiefly, rather than because of it, “ explains Dr Smith. “That doesn’t mean it’s not a pain, because we still have to do effective infection control, which can frustrate normal processes and reduce available beds etc,” he adds.
If, however, you do find you’ve tested positive, here’s a refresher in Covid etiquette.
What are the latest Covid symptoms?
The official list of Covid symptoms has not changed, according to the UKHSA (the UK Health Security Agency). If you’re noticing the following, it is possible you have the disease (although keep in mind that many are similar to simply having a cold or flu):
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough 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 or a sore throat
a blocked or runny nose
loss of appetite
diarrhoea
feeling sick or being sick
I think I’ve got Covid but feel fine – should I test?
You don’t have to, and you can no longer get free lateral flow tests from the NHS. But if you might be around vulnerable people, or if you would rather not infect others, it’s a good idea. They’re still available to buy at high street chemists for £1.75 per test, or £8.75 for five tests.
“The virus is still incredibly dangerous to people in at-risk categories,” says Dr Mark Faghy, an associate professor in respiratory physiology at the University of Derby who leads several research projects on the virus. He explains that we are not out of the woods yet. “And some of the sub-variants we are seeing have a high level of transmissibility.”
I’ve got Covid but feel OK – should I go to work?
You can go to work even after testing positive for Covid and there is no legal obligation to tell your employer if you are infected. You also do not need to take a lateral flow test and there is no requirement to wear masks. But those with infections would be responsible to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people – especially the vulnerable.
“If you are showing symptoms of Covid-19 or flu, help protect others by staying at home and avoiding contact with other people, especially those who are more vulnerable,” the UKHSA’s consultant epidemiologist Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal said.
Elderly people or those with weakened immune systems are more likely to fall seriously ill if they contract Covid.
I’ve got Covid but don’t feel unwell – do I really need to isolate?
There is no legal requirement to isolate or stay at home. However, if you want to avoid spreading the infection to others you should avoid close contact with people, particularly those who may be vulnerable.
My partner has Covid – do I really need to isolate too?
No. There is no requirement for either of you to isolate.
I’ve tested positive – should I see my vulnerable grandparents?
No. Covid-19 remains a serious risk for the elderly, particularly if they have health problems or a history of adverse responses to previous Covid infections.
George Sandhu is deputy pharmacy superintendent at Well Pharmacy advises: “If you’ve tested positive, it is best to avoid contact with vulnerable people for 10 days after you take the test to protect them from potential severe complications.”
I’ve got Covid – should I wear a mask out and about?
There is no mandate to wear a mask if you have a Covid infection. However, the virus is mainly spread through airborne droplets so if, out of a sense of civic duty, you want to take measures to protect others, wearing one can help stop the spread, particularly when indoors in a crowded place with poor ventilation. Studies show that wearing a mask in public is effective in reducing the spread of respiratory diseases.
My teenager has Covid – do they really need to stay off school?
Government advice says that Covid presents a low risk to children and young people and that children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to go to school, college or childcare. Those who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home.
The NHS advises caution, as Sandhu explains: “Children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults so three days at home is the current NHS recommendation, however it is best to avoid vulnerable people for 10 days after the positive covid test.”
If we don’t test for flu and colds, why do some people still test for Covid?
Thanks to test and trace messaging and habits during the pandemic, testing for Covid became normalised and tests are still available to buy. This is not true for colds and the flu. Colds are not seen as serious health problems.
“We often say, ‘it’s just a cold’. They are generally taken to be a mild illness that we recover from after a few days,” says Faghy. “But the ramifications of Covid and flu can be more serious and can in some cases result in death.”
Can you still get a Covid vaccine?
The vaccine programme has been scaled back since the initial rollouts early in the pandemic. Now, only certain people are entitled to jabs under seasonal booster programmes.
They are:
Aged 75 or over
People with a weakened immune system
Adults who live in care homes
Bear in mind the NHS spring booster programme ended yesterday [Sunday 30 June]. The vaccine programme will be rolled out again later this year, and you will be contacted if you are eligible according to the NHS.
Vaccines are good at preventing severe Covid symptoms but they do not necessarily stop you becoming infected.
The latest data showed four million people – 59.6 per cent of those eligible – had been vaccinated under the scheme since April, including two-thirds of care home residents.
Vaccinations are also available privately to anyone who can afford to pay for them, with Boots charging £98.95.
