Sore throat could be Covid XEC strain Brits warned as 1,000 are hospitalised in a week
As the UK continues to grapple with high coronavirus rates, an expert has shed light on how to distinguish a Covid sore throat from one caused by strep or other infections.
With the arrival of colder weather and more indoor gatherings, we're at a heightened risk of catching seasonal bugs. But with so many viruses circulating, it's tricky to pinpoint exactly what you might have caught.The latest stats from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that COVID-19 cases are still quite prevalent, with 1,081 confirmed in the week leading up to 4 December, alongside 122 Covid-related deaths in the week before 22 November.
Hospital admissions due to Covid also saw a slight increase of 1.5 percent, with 1,085 patients admitted up to 30 November. Experts had previously associated a spike in Covid cases with the emergence of the XEC variant, first identified in Germany and noted for its high transmissibility due to several mutations.
Adding to health concerns, the NHS has recently highlighted the possibility of a "quademic" hitting the UK, with flu, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Covid potentially impacting many this winter.
United States
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Cases: 46 252 513
Deaths: 750 423
Recovered: 0
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India
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Cases: 34 321 025
Deaths: 459 652
Recovered: 0
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Brazil
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Cases: 21 835 785
Deaths: 608 235
Recovered: 0
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United Kingdom
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Cases: 9 215 683
Deaths: 141 607
Recovered: 0
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Russia
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Cases: 8 494 589
Deaths: 237 619
Recovered: 0
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