Hospital numbers continue to rise and the summer Covid-19 wave spreads across Ireland once more.
The highly transmissible BA.4 and BA.5 variants have resulted in a huge spike, with health officials now posting new guidance. People with even mild symptoms of the virus are being asked to self-isolate to help slow down the spread.
New symptoms are being brought to light and the public is being warned to isolate if they develop them. If you are displaying signs of Covid, even mild ones, you should self-isolate until 48 hours after their symptoms are mostly or completely gone and wear a face mask if you have to be around other people.
Read more: Professor's secret on how to dodge Covid while travelling
This strict measure should be followed even if you have been vaccinated, had a booster, or have had Covid in the past.
Last week, Luke O’Neill said the new BA.5 variant has been causing havoc across the globe in recent weeks. O’Neill said: "Most cases in Ireland at the moment would be BA.5, for instance, same in the US. It's another curveball that has been thrown at us by this virus, and BA.5 is the dominant variant that's out there at the moment.”
When speaking about the summer wave, he said it is now believed that there are some key differences in the symptoms being reported - and people need to be aware of them.
"One extra symptom for BA.5 I saw this morning is night sweats," he said.
"The disease is slightly different because the virus has changed. There is some immunity to it, with the T cells and so on, and that mix of your immune system and the virus being slightly different might give rise to a slightly different disease - with strangely enough - night sweats being a feature.”
Read more: Irish people warned to 'meet outdoors' as 'summer wave' of Covid-19 hits
The most common symptoms of Covid are:
- fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) - including having chills
- dry cough
- fatigue (tiredness)
Less common symptoms of Covid include:
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this could mean they're completely gone or just different from normal
- nasal congestion (runny or blocked nose)
- conjunctivitis (also known as red-eye or pink eye)
- sore throat
- headache
- muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
- different types of skin rash
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhoea
- chills or dizziness
Read more: Professor Luke O'Neill says new Covid-19 vaccination campaign in autumn 'likely'
Symptoms of severe Covid include:
- shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
- loss of appetite
- confusion
- pain or pressure in the chest
- fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
Although the summer wave is rampant, Irish officials have yet to reintroduce any new restrictions as the rate of vaccination remains high and side effects seem less severe. If you’re due your vaccine, booster, or additional dose, you can book them up to five days in advance on the HSE website.
Read more:
- Taoiseach can't rule out return of Covid-19 restrictions this winter
Covid-19 Ireland: Nine symptoms fully vaccinated people need to look out for
- New Covid-19 variant: Expert warns to expect new wave every few months
Health experts warn of another Covid wave as hospitals under pressure
Compulsory mask wearing may return later this year as 'precautionary move'
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