There are fears that Covid cases are already on the rise in parts of the UK as Scotland has seen a spike in infections, according to the latest figures.
In Scotland, it is likely that 113,500 people have tested positive for Covid in the past week, or one in 45 – up from 104.400, or one in 50, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics described trends in Wales and Northern Ireland as “unconfirmed”.
The Office for National Statistics estimated that there were 881,200 people infected with coronavirus in private homes across the UK in the week ending September 5. That’s down from 944,700 in the previous week, and the lowest total since the seven days through September 25 last year.
Simon Clarke, from the University of Reading, said: “I think we should take this as a warning that infection numbers are likely to start rising soon, where that hasn’t already happened. We can’t be sure exactly what effect this will have on hospitals, because we still don’t We have a good idea of how well society is protected from dangerous diseases.
“This can be made worse, of course, by association with seasonal flu, something we haven’t properly tested yet.”
There are also fears of a devastating flu season expected this winter, which could combine as the number of Covid cases rise to form a “dangerous twin”.
According to the latest findings from the Covid ZOE app, which investigates symptoms common among coronavirus patients in the UK, there are five common signs of infection in fully vaccinated people.
The most common symptoms when fully vaccinated
According to the platform’s findings, similar symptoms of Covid-19 were reported by vaccinated and unvaccinated people, but fewer symptoms were reported in a shorter period of time by those who received a jab more recently, indicating that they were less Danger. . sick and recovering faster.
The most common symptom after the injection was a runny nose. These are often overlooked as symptoms of a cold, but according to the platform, it’s best to get tested if common side effects occur.
Next on the list of common symptoms among vaccinated Covid patients is headache. This is followed by sneezing, sore throat and finally a persistent cough, which was once a major symptom when the pandemic began in 2020.
Runny nose and sore throat are the most common symptoms in vaccinated people.
(AFP via Getty Images)
The ZOE app said the previous “traditional” symptoms, which are still described on the government’s website, such as loss of smell, shortness of breath and fever, are well below the list, at 6, 29 and 8, respectively. Persistent cough now ranks No. 5 in people who have received two doses of the vaccine, so it is no longer the main indicator of Covid.
People who had been vaccinated and then tested positive for COVID-19 were more likely to report sneezing as symptomatic than those who had not been vaccinated.
Professor Azim Majeed, head of public health at Imperial College London, said vaccination would be “essential” during the winter period.
“There is concern about ‘twindemia’, in the last two winters we have seen high rates of COVID because of the omicron, so it is likely that we will see the same thing from COVID again,” Professor Majeed said. independent.
“At the same time, flu rates have been very low in recent years because of all the measures taken, such as face masks, working from home, so we were very lucky, but this winter we will have normal social activities, people will mingle much more, there is a possibility that Influenza rates are high.”
Professor Majeed urged people to get tested if they showed any symptoms of Covid, but admitted that the government had made it more difficult after it stopped providing free test kits.
He warned that raising public health alerts ahead of the fall-winter season may help prevent an increase in cases that could lead to another wave of Covid.
Jamie Lopez Bernal, UKHSA’s Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunization and Countermeasures, said: “With the increased prevalence of respiratory viruses in the winter months, we can expect cases of Covid-19 to increase in the coming weeks.
“We ask all contacts to come forward and accept backup when asked. The NHS reservation system is now open for immunosuppressed people over the age of 75.
We also encourage everyone to continue to help limit the spread of the virus – by gathering in well-ventilated places, washing hands regularly, and staying away from others whenever possible if you have symptoms of respiratory illness.
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.