Experts warn that the most common symptoms of Covid are now gone in Britain.
Some experts warn that the UK is at risk of falling prey to the rising number of cases. “devastating”New wave for winter
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According to the ZOE App, covid-19 infection rates in the UK have risen by 72 percent since last month.
According to the Office for National Statistics Infection Survey, there are approximately 176,090 new symptomatic cases per day in the UK. However, the current infection rate is around 1,000,000.
A fever and loss of taste or odor were once early signs of the virus. But the symptom track app has shown that these symptoms are now more common.
Covid is most commonly seen in a sore throat.
Professor Tim Spector, cofounder of the Covid ZOE App, saidThe IndependentMany people still follow the government guidelines regarding symptoms “which are wrong”.
“At the moment Covid begins in two-thirds people with sore throats.
“Fever and loss of smell are really rare now – so many old people may not think they’ve got Covid.
“They’d say it’s a cold and not be tested,” he explained.
Professor Spector also showed that early data suggested Omicron subvariants were becoming immune-evasive, which could lead to the UK. “real problems”As winter draws near, the NHS is here “already on its knees”.
University of Warwick virologist, Professor Lawrence Young, also said that two Omicron subvariants – BA.2.75.2 derived from BA.2, and BQ1.1 derived from BA.5 – were showing signs of being able to escape the immune system.
However, studies have found the Omicron strain is milder than others that came before it.
“What we’re finding is the virus is evolving around the immunity that’s been built up through vaccines and countless infections people have had,” Prof Young explained.
He warned that Covid testing will be downscaled and the UK could be at risk. “blind”to the behavior of potential new variants of concern.
Since April 2022, most people in England have to pay around £2 to check if they have the virus.
“We’ve really taken our eye off the ball with Covid tests,”He stated.
“We can only detect variants or know what’s coming by doing sequencing from PCR testing, and that’s not going on anywhere near the extent it was a year ago.
The expert urged people to get their booster jabs, noting that the new bivalent vaccine boosters tackle multiple variants — which is ‘key to preventing a devastating wave’.
The Government has called on millions of Brits to receive flu and Covid vaccines before winter. “twindemic” virus surge.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), more than 30 million people can get one or both jabs.
NHS director of vaccinations and screening, Steve Russell, said: “The vaccine is still our best protection against this difficult virus and with the number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 on the rise once again.
“I urge anyone eligible for the autumn booster to book their latest dose without delay through the NHS website or by calling 119, and help protect yourself and your loved ones this winter,”He concluded.