The NHS has warned people to stay at home for five days if they test positive for Covid, as a new variant has the potential to become dominant in the UK
The NHS has issued advice on what to do if you test positive for Covid, as fears grow that a new strain could become dominant in the UK.
Although isolation is no longer compulsory, the health service advises staying at home and avoiding contact with others for five days after testing positive.
It also recommends steering clear of vulnerable individuals for 10 days post-positive result. This comes amid concerns that the newly identified XEC variant, first found in Germany and now detected in 27 countries worldwide, could be highly transmissible due to its multiple mutations.
Meanwhile, Covid cases are on the rise again in the UK. The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency reveal a 21.6% increase in cases in England in just one week.
In the seven days leading up to September 25, there were 2,797 recorded cases – a jump of 530 from the previous week. Furthermore, the week leading up to September 20 saw a 50% surge in Covid deaths in England, with 134 recorded.
If you have Covid symptoms, the NHS advises staying at home and avoiding contact with others, even if you haven’t taken a test, reports Surrey Live.
According to NHS guidelines, people may return to their routine activities once they feel better or are no longer running a temperature. “You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature,” the health service advises online.
For children with minor symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough, the recommendation is: “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.”
As for the symptoms of XEC, they are believed to mirror those of other Covid variants and might include:.
The NHS is also gearing up for booster vaccinations, which will be accessible until December 20 this year. Vulnerable groups identified for priority include:.
Those eligible for the booster jab will be contacted by the NHS; however, appointments can currently also be arranged through alternative means including the NHS App, GPs, pharmacies, walk-in centres, or by dialling 119. Additionally, individuals qualified for the flu vaccine will also receive it in conjunction with their Covid booster.
