Dr Hilary discusses possible Covid wave
Covid cases have surged amid bad weather and waning immunity this summer.
The estimated numbers jumped by almost 200,000 last month, from 606,656 predicted cases on 4 July to 785,980 on 27 July, according to The Zoe Health Study, which estimates figures for UK Covid infections.
According to Dr Hilary Jones, the gloomy weather that the country saw this summer is to blame for this rise.
The colder temperatures and rainy conditions have caused people to flock inside, creating a better environment for spread.
Worryingly, the TV doctor warned that this is likely to be just the beginning as autumn and winter season are quickly approaching.
READ MORE Four ‘common’ symptoms of Covid Pirola variant as professor issues warning
Speaking on ITV’s show Lorraine, Dr Hilary said: “We might see another wave but that doesn’t mean we need to be too concerned.
“There may be a few more hospitalisations but just be careful.”
This comes as the scientific community is monitoring two new variants which are in the UK: Eris and Pirola.
What do we know about Eris?
Also known EG.5.1, the descendant of Omicron was first classified as a variant by the World Health Organisation on August 9.
Eris is now the second most prevalent strain in the UK and the most common variant in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the Omicron spin-off is not thought to cause more severe symptoms than previous subvariants, it’s currently not clear whether it’s less severe or more infectious.
What are the symptoms of Eris
Furthermore, the symptoms EG.5 triggers seem to be similar to other Omicron strains.
In a previous interview with Express.co.uk, Dr Johannes Uys, a GP at Broadgate General Practice explained the main signs include a sore throat, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a cough without phlegm, a headache, a hoarse voice, and muscle aches and pains.
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However, the expert also noted that the following three symptoms seem to be especially common with the new strain: sneezing, sensitive sinuses, stuffy nose.
What do we know about Pirola?
The new Covid variant BA.2.86 concerns some virologists because it has a large number of mutations, and it may be able to evade immunity from the Covid vaccines or recent infections with a different variant.
The UK recorded a case of the new strain on August 18 in a person with no recent travel history, suggesting a degree of transmission within the country, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Scientists have established the Omicron subvariant carries 30 more mutations in the spike protein compared to the previous dominant variant.
Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire, previously told Express.co.uk that these mutations could mean Pirola is “potentially more transmissible and severe”.
What are the symptoms of Pirola?
It’s currently unclear whether these mutations give the strain an advance and cause more severe symptoms.
However, Dr Papadopoulos recommended looking out for these “common” signs:
- Sore throat
- Runny or blocked nose
- Cough (with or without phlegm)
- Headaches.
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