New data from both the UK and the US indicate a slight uptick in cases - should we be concerned?
Nevertheless, understanding the latest developments in variants, symptoms, and preventive measures is crucial to staying informed and protected.
A healthcare worker places a test swab into solution for a PCR Covid-19 test at a Reliant Health Services testing site in Hawthorne, California on January 18, 2022.
US, UK Report Rise in COVID Cases and Hospitalizations
In the UK, BBC reports that there is some talk of a "summer Covid wave" as more people seem to be falling ill. However, precise data on the number of cases is hard to come by due to reduced testing.
Despite this, hospital admissions have shown a modest increase, rising to 3.31 per 100,000 people in the week leading to June 16, up from 2.67 per 100,000 the previous week. The most affected group remains those aged 85 and over.
In the US, the situation mirrors this trend. As of May, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data revealed that the COVID-19 hospitalization rate increased slightly to 1.5 per 100,000 hospital visits from 1.1 in mid-May. Death rates have also reached a pandemic low, with around 300 COVID-19-associated deaths occurring weekly.
Emergence of New Variants
Recent months have seen the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, collectively known as FLiRT.
In the US, the CDC suggests that over half of COVID-19 infections are caused by two new strains, KP.3 and KP.2. These strains are related to the highly contagious JN.1 variant and belong to a group known as FLiRT variants.
BBC reports that the JN1 variant is currently dominant in England, while the KP2 variant is also present. The KP3 variant, which has driven a rise in cases in the US, has been detected in the UK in small numbers.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is closely monitoring these variants to understand their transmissibility and severity. Although there is no current change in public health advice, the UKHSA continues to gather data on how well-existing vaccines protect against these new strains.
Symptoms to Watch For
Despite the emergence of new variants, the official list of COVID-19 symptoms remains unchanged. According to the UKHSA, common symptoms include a high temperature, new continuous cough, loss or change in sense of smell or taste, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting.
Current Guidelines and Vaccinations
In the UK, there are no longer any legal requirements for self-isolation or testing. However, government advice suggests staying at home and avoiding contact with others for five days after testing positive for COVID-19.
It is also recommended to avoid meeting with individuals who are more vulnerable to severe illness, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
The vaccination program has been scaled back, focusing on those most at risk: individuals aged 75 or over, people with weakened immune systems, and adults in care homes.
In the US, vaccination rates have dropped, with fewer than one-quarter of adults having received the latest COVID-19 shot as of May. Among those most vulnerable, only about 42% of individuals aged 75 and older have received the latest vaccination.
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