Concerns have been raised in recent weeks over people across the UK being struck down with flu-like illnesses. The new Covid strain, nicknamed Kraken, now accounts for 40.5 percent of cases in the US and UK doctors warn it is already linked to one in 25 cases here.
While the emergence of more illnesses can be linked also to flu and winter colds, new ONS figures show Covid cases had increased in the week ending December 31, Yorkshire Live reports. The MEN recently spoke to a health expert on what is causing sickness rates and what action to take if you fall ill.
Manchester's Director of Public Health, David Regan, told the newspaper: "In the lead up to Christmas we saw an increase in covid related admissions and people with covid in intensive care but as much pressure from covid on our hospital system as flu," he said.
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"The new variant is another strain of Omicron. We've had five of Omicron in 2022 alone. At the moment, the government hasn't officially classified it as a variant of concern but they are monitoring it in the US closely.
"In the UK we have relatively small numbers at the moment and the good news is that the vaccine we have is effective. The UK Health Security Agency will monitor the situation closely."
The relatively low numbers in the UK is replicated in Nottinghamshire, where the numbers of reported cases is substantially lower than during 2020 and 2021.
5 coronavirus hotspots in Nottinghamshire
According to an interactive map which charts the number of positive test results in each neighbourhood across the country using government data, these are the five areas of Notts with a higher infection rate per 100,000 people in the seven days to December 31.
Gamston and Holme Pierrepont
Total cases: 36
Case rate: 410.3
Sutton Central and Leamington
Total cases: 19
Case rate: 239
Hucknall Town
Total cases: 18
Case rate: 191.9
Newark North
Total cases: 15
Case rate: 120.5
Hucknall Westville
Total cases: 14
Case rate: 169.2
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