How to tell difference between cold and ‘American covid’ as more people getting sick with variant
Covid cases appear to be rising across England from variants known as XFG or ‘Stratus’.
Figures show 4,589 Covid infections were recorded in September, compared with 1,374 in August. Hospital admissions also increased from 950 in August to 4,939 in September.
Yet the real number of infections could be much higher because many people with mild Covid will not be tested or need hospital treatment.
It doesn't help that the variants already circulated widely in North America and Europe can cause symptoms that are easily confused with a common cold or flu.
How can you tell Covid from a cold?
The symptoms can be very similar.
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People with the XFG Covid variant have reported symptoms like a sore throat, headache, runny nose and tiredness.
A common cold can also cause a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, sneezing and coughing, meaning that it can be difficult to tell the difference from symptoms alone.
One possible sign of Covid is feeling very tired or generally unwell. Some doctors have also reported Covid patients suffering stomach problems, including diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and loss of appetite.
Although, having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have Covid. Testing remains the best way to find out whether Covid is causing your illness.
'It's completely normal for viruses to change over time'
Despite the rise in cases, health experts have said there is no reason for people to panic.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says Covid levels remain relatively low and there is currently no evidence that XFG makes people more seriously ill or spreads faster than previous strains.
Hospital admissions are also below the levels seen last September and are far lower than during the height of the Covid pandemic.
Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “While Covid-19 activity has shown some recent increases, cases remain at low levels in the UK.
“It's completely normal for viruses to change over time. The strains currently going around, including those known as XFG, are closely related to strains that have been with us for over a year, so this isn't something new.
“We're also not seeing any evidence that these are making people more ill or spreading faster than before, and this year's autumn vaccine has been specifically designed to protect against them.
“UKHSA is monitoring all the data relating to Covid-19 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular surveillance reports.”
Topics: Health, UK News, Coronavirus
Anish Vij