The winter season could be "more severe than in pre-pandemic years", with the number of patients in hospital with flu in England "skyrocketing." Coronavirus case rates are also said to be "accelerating across the UK" with a 25% increase ahead of Christmas.
An average of 1,939 people with flu were in hospital each day last week, up 67% on 1,162 the previous week, according to NHS England. Symptoms of Covid-19 have varied amid new strains of the virus since it was first detected in the UK nearly three years ago.
The different variants that have been identified often come with different symptoms, meaning people don't always realise it is Covid. A cough or shortness of breath seems to be standard with the virus, but other symptoms have made themselves known, as seen in Lancs Live.
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According to ZOE data, the most commonly reported symptoms from those who have tested positive for Covid-19 are:
- a sore throat
- a runny nose
- a blocked nose
- sneezing
- a cough without phlegm
- a headache
- a cough with phlegm
- a hoarse voice
- muscle aches and pains
- an altered sense of smell
ZOE also said: "The previous 'traditional' symptoms, such as loss of smell (anosmia), shortness of breath, and a fever, are much less common these days. In the list of common symptoms, anosmia ranks 14th, and shortness of breath ranks 16th.
"Anosmia used to be a key indicator of Covid-19, but only about 16% of people with the illness now experience it." Meanwhile, an average of 1,939 people with flu were in hospital each day last week, up 67% on 1,162 the previous week, according to NHS England.
There has also been a surge in the number of flu patients in critical care beds, with the daily average standing at 149 last week, up 72% from 87 the previous week. At the equivalent point last year the NHS had only two flu patients a day in critical care and 32 in general beds.
The rate of flu admissions currently stands at 8.3 per 100,000 people, up week-on-week from 6.8 per 100,000, and a level not seen since the 2017-18 season. Flu admissions continue to be highest among over-85s, at 42.0 per 100,000 people, and children aged four and under, at 19.4 per 100,000, according to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
All children aged two and three are eligible for a flu nasal spray vaccine which is being offered by local GPs. But only 38.8% of two-year-olds have received the vaccine so far, along with 40.9% of three-year-olds, well below the take-up reached at this point in previous winters.
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive at NHS Providers, said: “Trust leaders are expecting this Christmas to be one of their darkest to date. As they work hard to mitigate the impact of ongoing strike action, they are also having to contend with an incredibly long list of other serious challenges.
“After very few flu cases in the last two years, in part due to social distancing during the pandemic, this flu season is looking far more severe compared to recent years before the pandemic.
“The surge in flu has impacted bed occupancy, which continues to be above levels considered safe.
“More patients are also staying longer in hospital due to greater severity of illness and delayed discharges, which remain a real concern and puts a massive strain on the entire health and care system, including community care and social services."
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