The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued guidance advising Brits with symptoms of any respiratory infection to wear a face mask, as the XFG variant continues to spread across the country
The Government has issued a plea for some Brits to don masks as the “American Covid” variant spreads across the nation. The alert comes as COVID-19 rates in the UK continue to rise.
The XFG variant, also known as “American Covid”, has been making its rounds across the UK and other countries for roughly a year . However, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals that COVID-19 positive test rates climbed to around 7% in September, with hospital admission rates surging by approximately 50% over the same period.
The rise in hospitalisations, mirroring the overall increase in COVID-19 circulation, suggests there is a general uptick in COVID-19 activity.
As such, the UKHSA has provided some guidance on what Brits should do if they exhibit symptoms of any kind of respiratory infection, including Covid. If you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to go to work or carry out normal activities, then you should steer clear of contact with vulnerable individuals and stay at home if possible.
For those who can’t, the most crucial thing to do is try to minimise the chances of transmitting the infection to others. The agency recommends that those with symptoms wear a “well-fitting face mask” with multiple layers or a surgical face mask, reports the Express.
It’s also recommended to steer clear of crowded places, take any exercise outdoors in areas where you won’t come into close contact with others, and maintain good hygiene practices. This includes covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands regularly with soap and water, or using hand sanitiser after coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose and before eating or handling food; avoid touching your face.
The UKHSA believes that the current increase is partly due to more people staying indoors as we transition into colder and wetter weather, which facilitates the spread of respiratory viruses. Furthermore, it’s been about a year since the last significant COVID-19 wave, meaning immunity from vaccination and previous infection may be diminishing in some sections of the population, making them more vulnerable.
The COVID-19 vaccination programme has commenced, targeting individuals aged 75 and over, those with compromised immune systems, and residents of care homes for the elderly. The UKHSA strongly encourages anyone who falls into these categories to get vaccinated, as it offers protection against severe illness.