The UK’s NHS has issued a warning about what to do if you test positive for COVID-19, As fears are increasing that a new strain may become dominant in Britain. Although isolation is no longer mandatory, the health service recommends staying at home and avoiding contact with others for at least five days after a positive test.

First detected in Germany in June, XEC has now been reported in several countries across Europe – and accounts for one in 10 COVID-19 cases in England and Wales.

Dr. Jamie Lopez Bernal from the UK said, “If you are showing symptoms of flu or COVID-19, such as high fever, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others , especially with those who are vulnerable.” Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) told reporters.

XEC is not as deadly as its predecessors

According to scientists, XEC is not as deadly as some of its predecessors, but is more contagious. “The current information does not suggest that we should be overly concerned about this variant, but we are keeping a close eye on it,” Dr. Jamie said. The global case count of this Omicron strain exceeds 600, including 82 confirmed instances within the UK.

It is considered highly infectious due to several mutations and experts believe it could become the dominant strain.

The number of people admitted to hospital has increased

The UKHSA also warned that the country has seen a slight increase in the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 over the past few weeks. The admission rate of patients testing positive for coronavirus in the week to October 6 was 4.5 per 100,000 people, up from 3.7 a week earlier. According to the NHS, this is the fourth consecutive weekly increase.

Around this time last year, admissions were at a high rate of 6.2 per 100,000 people, before falling in the following weeks – then peaking at 5.2 over Christmas.

UKHSA warns of ‘triple threat’

According to the UKHSA, there is an increased ‘triple threat’ of COVID-19, flu and RSV or respiratory syncytial virus – all viruses that infect the respiratory tract and can cause cold-like symptoms – which Can affect the upcoming winter.

“COVID-19 continues to spread, with a modest increase in the number of hospitalizations over the past two weeks,” Dr. Jamie said. Vaccinating against the three main threats of winter – COVID-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to embrace them and go into winter stronger,” he said.

nhs guidelines

According to the NHS, you can return to your regular activities when you feel better or your temperature goes down. “You can return to your normal activities when you feel better or no longer 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 are feeling fine, they Can go to school or take care of the child.”

Other EXEC symptoms include:

• high temperature or shivering
• A new, persistent cough, meaning coughing a lot for more than an hour, or having three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• loss or change in your ability to smell or taste
• breathlessness
• feeling tired or exhausted
• body ache
• Headache
• blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

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