When Joe Biden announced that he had tested positive for COVID last week, he joined the ranks of others who fell this summer.
It turns out that everyone knows someone who is in poor health, and it’s possible that experts on the euro have had an impact.
But what do we know about the number of cases, the new variants, and what symptoms should we look out for?
What do we know about the number of cases?
It’s difficult to track COVID waves, assess the severity of other variants and know the effectiveness of vaccines, because COVID surveillance is much less extensive than before, says Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh. .
Despite this, there is a “pervasive sense” of a summer wave, probably reinforced by the fact that other people are mixing to watch football, he says.
“The waves continue to be fueled by an emergence of new variants and a partial decrease in immunity to infection,” he adds.
Hospital admissions due to COVID have remained at their highest levels for several weeks, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency.
In the week to July 14, the number of people admitted to hospital and testing positive for COVID rose to 4. 35 per 100,000, up from 3. 72 per 100,000 last week.
Sewage testing is no longer done in England, but Scottish knowledge can provide insight into what’s south of the border.
The most recent data released by Public Health Scotland (PHS) for the week ending July 7 indicates that there were 1,245 cases of COVID in Scotland.
Dr Kimberly Marsh told BBC Radio Scotland that provisional data for the week ending 14 July showed the number of cases had fallen to 1,130, one of the “first signs that this wave has possibly peaked”.
Professor Christina Pagel, a member of the Independent Sage organisation and director of operational studies at University College London, says that while Scotland and England might have “different dynamics”, the reduction in cases in July in Scotland “suggests that prevalence is decreasing”. “.
What variants are circulating?
The most recent organization of COVID variants is collectively known as FLiRT.
These variants are descendants of JN. 1, which dates back to Omicron.
FLiRT variants have the same set of mutations that can cause the virus to avoid coverage from vaccines or past infections.
However, the UKHSA says there is no evidence lately that those variants are more severe than others in circulation.
What are the symptoms?
The official list of COVID symptoms has been replaced and includes:
• high temperature or chills • new, continuous cough • loss or replacement of your sense of smell or taste • difficulty breathing • feeling tired or exhausted • body aches • headache • sore throat • stuffy or runny nose • leak of appetite • diarrhea • nausea or discomfort.
Dr. Paul Sax, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, told NBC News, Sky News’ U. S. partner, that other people who tested positive in the summer wave have symptoms across the spectrum.
“Some other people have a very common sore throat, runny nose, cough, and mild fever,” he says.
“In others, it’s basically nausea and diarrhea with minimal respiratory symptoms. It can range from A to Z and more. “
Read more:UK pandemic preparedness laid bare in COVID researchLong COVID leaves unique symptoms in the blood
Can we get vaccinated?
The NHS spring booster programme ended at the end of June.
This means that the way to get a COVID vaccine is to pay for it privately.
Many pharmacies offer COVID vaccines to other people over the age of 12, costing between £45 and £99.
What is there in the world?
In the United States, infections are emerging in 42 states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Wastewater knowledge also shows the highest levels of COVID nationwide.
COVID cases have also risen in other parts of Europe, with the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reporting higher rates in some countries, with COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths “remaining low. “