This advice is in place to help prevent the spread of illness and protect vulnerable people
The NHS has urged people to stick to a 10-day rule if they have Covid. While cases of the illness have been rising in recent weeks, the most recent data shows a slight drop in infections.
In an update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it said: “COVID-19 showed slightly decreasing activity, circulating at medium levels . COVID-19 positivity in hospital settings decreased slightly with a weekly mean positivity rate of 12 per cent compared with 13.1 per cent in the previous week.”
Those aged 85 years and over had the highest hospital admission rate due to Covid, which “remained stable” at 46.23 per 100,000 compared with 47.29 per 100,000 in the previous week. Although cases may not be as high as they were the previous week, it is still important to do what you can to limit the spread.
Therefore, the NHS has a series of recommendations if you test positive. On its website the NHS states that “most” people do not need to take a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if they have symptoms.
However, if you choose to do a test and the result is positive you should stick to its 10-day rule. It said: “Avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from infections, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test.”
It is also recommended that you:
- Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious for less time than adults
- Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over
Symptoms
According to the NHS, COVID-19 symptoms 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
“The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu,” the NHS says. “Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.
“For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.” Recently, the UKHSA noted that two of the most dominant variants of Covid have been the XFG variant, otherwise known as Stratus, and NB.1.8. 1, known as Nimbus.
The UKHSA warned that these strains may cause a hoarse voice or “particularly painful” sore throat alongside other typical Covid symptoms.
To help ease symptoms, the NHS says you should:
- Get lots of rest
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable
- Try having a teaspoon of honey if you have a cough – do not give honey to babies under 12 months
- Try turning the heating down or opening a window to help with breathlessness
- Breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you’re gently blowing out a candle
- Sit upright in a chair to help with breathlessness
- Relax your shoulders, so you’re not hunched to help with breathlessness
- Lean forward slightly – support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair to help with breathlessness
- Not lie on your back if you have a cough – lie on your side or sit upright instead
- Not use a fan to cool your room as it may spread the virus
- Try not to panic if you’re feeling breathless – this can make it worse
For more information, visit the NHS website here.
