It will include all the latest guidelines and information to help keep you and your family safe and well. The UK is the odd one out, he said. Recent data, including a study from Hong Kong, found that Omicron was less able to infect deep lung tissue but more able to infect higher bronchial tissue. The ZOE COVID Study UK incidence figures results over time; total number of new cases and new cases in fully vaccinated, Graph 5. Our must-read email goes out every afternoon and offers a comprehensive overview of the day. I would probably just add [to the list]: Have you got cold-like symptoms? We need to educate people, go back to the basics, and say that if youve got cold-like symptoms keep away from people. All were vaccinated, some with boosters, and had a negative LFT 24 hours . Some scientists and academics are speculating that this winter could see many of us hit with a bad bout of flu. Lead scientist on Zoe Covid study says misinformation in official messaging must be addressed to save lives. OMICRON is still rife in the UK, with thousands catching the bug every day. In this webinar, we hear about your personal experiences with Long COVID, and our experts discuss its definition, symptoms, and treatments. Its my hope that the rest of the country is doing the same to avoid big outbreaks outside of London, especially in big cities., Ahead of Christmas, if people want to get together and keep vulnerable family members safe, Id recommend limiting social contact in the run up to Christmas and doing a few Lateral Flow Tests just before the big family gathering. We answer your questions on face coverings, including whether they protect against COVID-19, and when and where you should consider wearing one. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained. Scientists at the University of Tokyo comparing the Kraken and Arcturus sub-variantshave suggested that the newer strain spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than its relative, warning that it will spread worldwide in the near future aided by the fact that it seems robustly resistant to antibodies lingering in the body from previous Covid infections. The strain was first located in the UK in Chelmsford and Nottingham on November 27, 2021, after initially detected in southern Africa. Zoe data clearly shows that the most important symptoms are no longer a new continuous cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell. How Omicron appears to be infecting Britain - The Guardian You can change your cookie settings at any time. Digital tools like the ZOE COVID Study app are changing the way we do health research. The number of daily new cases among 0-18 year-olds remains high, while cases in the 19-35s are rapidly rising and the 36-55 age group continue to rise more steadily. What are the symptoms of Arcturus? If you can't stay at home while you feel unwell, you can reduce the chances of passing on the infection you have by: For most people who've been vaccinated - and children, even if they haven't had a jab - Covid infections are usually mild, and typically last for up to a week. The likelihood of reporting long COVID symptoms four weeks after a first coronavirus (COVID-19) infection compatible with the Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 variants, compared with the Delta variant, using data from the COVID-19 Infection Survey. Between November 27, 2021, and January 12, 2022, a total of 886,774 eligible persons infected with the omicron variant, 204,154 eligible persons infected with the delta variant, and 1,572,621. Were introducing a brand new way of reporting in the ZOE Health Study app which will take into account how you usually feel. Find out how to get involved and help tackle the health conditions that matter most to you. In the regions, England, 1 in 56. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. There have been 54,661 new cases of Covid reported across the UK in the last 24 hours and 38 people died after catching the virus. Read about our approach to external linking. (Table 1). Keep an eye on your region with this map that tracks predicted Omicron prevalence across England. Data released on 16 December by the Covid Symptoms Study,1 run by the health science company Zoe and Kings College London, show that the top five symptoms reported in the app for omicron infection were runny nose, headache, fatigue (either mild or severe), sneezing, and sore throat. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Choose which newsletters apply to you from across our Devon and Cornwall titles here - so that you can stay informed, stay home and stay safe. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. With unvaccinated users disappearing from our study, weve found a solution to continue predicting case numbers for the whole country. The latest figure, a 50% day-on-day increase, brings the total . Heres what we found. Weve recorded a quarter of a million COVID boosters and third primary doses through the ZOE COVID Study to better understand their safety and effectiveness. COVID-19 has had a big impact on cancer services, but its still really important to get checked out by your doctor if something doesnt seem normal for you. Is climate change killing Australian wine? To make sure that our figures are as robust as possible, weve updated the way we calculate our COVID incidence figures. So if you have a cold at the moment, theres about a 50% chance that it is actually Covid., Good news is Omicron may be less severe, bad news is its surging faster, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. I think most people know what cold-like symptoms are. WHO: Omicron is a variant of concern, not panic, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. What we know about the new Arcturus Covid variant and its symptoms, according to the UK Health Security Agency, spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently, Save over 10% on everything with the Boots advantage card, 15% off all first time bookings over 45 - Treatwell promo code, 30% off selected brands with this Notino discount code, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. This process doesn't give the full picture but by using those results, scientists are able to estimate what proportion of new cases are the new variant. Published 27 November 2021 Prime Minister confirms new, temporary measures to respond to emergence of UK cases of the Omicron variant All international arrivals to take a Day 2 PCR test and. They can also be bought from a private company if you need one for travel purposes. India was devastated by the Delta wave in 2021 and suffered a total of 4.7m excess deaths, according to WHO estimates. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Choose what you love here, Devon car crash leaves woman with serious injuries, Bideford woman's nightmare five-year battle with rat plague. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Ref: GOV-10947 Whilst these figures and R values suggest little is happening, London has an R value of 1.1, and is currently seeing a rapid rise in positive cases (Graph 3), this could be an early warning of what could happen across the rest of the country soon.. In this webinar, our experts discuss the origins of ZOE, how digital tools like apps are shaping healthcare, and what we can expect for the future. PDF, 656 KB, 6 pages. The committee said there was preliminary evidence of changes in symptoms accompanying Omicron infections, as loss of taste or smell seem to be reported less frequently. Infographic PA Graphics. The UK Health Security Agency is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious. The Omicron variant is a VoC because it has many mutations that haven't been seen before. 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Dr Angelique Coetzee, a private practitioner and chair of the South African Medical Association, said patients have not been reporting a loss of taste and smell. You should get plenty of rest and drink water to keep hydrated. People need to get their booster shots for the most protection. Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, New measures to respond to emergence of Omicron variant come into force at 4am, Face coverings compulsory in shops and on public transport, All international arrivals to take a Day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative test, All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their age or vaccination status. For most people, an Omicron positive case will feel much more like the common cold, starting with a sore throat, runny nose and a headache. Covid live: 633 new Omicron cases detected in UK - as it happened Why are so many people catching Covid again? where about 22% of cases in those aged 65 and older ended up in hospital in early 2021, when Alpha was dominant but few had received a vaccine . One UK expert said up to one in four colds could currently be Covid as the symptoms become more mild.