'Stay home for five days' warning issued over Covid tests

A top pharmacist has issued a warning to UK adults now testing positive for Covid - urging them to self-isolate for at least five days in order to curb the spread of two highly infectious new strains of the virus. The latest variants, Stratus and Nimbus, are causing concern among experts, with a key symptom being a hoarse or 'razor blade' sore throat.

George Sandhu, deputy superintendent of Well Pharmacy, is calling on anyone exhibiting these symptoms to get a Covid test as infection rates continue to climb. The news comes half a decade after millions of Brits were compelled to stay home and work remotely during the nationwide lockdowns of the global pandemic.

The pharmacist is keen for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of Covid, which was contracted by 447 people in the week leading up to 24 September - a rise of 22% on the previous seven days, according to the most recent Government figures. Furthermore, 157 individuals were admitted to hospital in the week ending 31 August, a 15.6% increase on the preceding week - bringing the total number of patients receiving treatment in hospital to 1,162.

Covid is a respiratory infection similar to the common cold and flu. Like these other infections, Covid is transmitted from person-to-person through breathing, sneezing, and coughing.

Now Mr Sandhu is urging Brits to adhere to the latest NHS guidelines as the two new variants continue to spread across the country, reports Wales Online.

The symptoms of any respiratory infection are similar with a high temperature, new continuous cough and a loss of taste or smell among the most common reported symptoms. With the new Stratus variant of Covid, many patients have reported a hoarse voice as an early symptom, whereas those infected with Nimbus have complained of a razor blade feeling in the throat.

In most cases, a positive antigen test would likely have confirmed they were positive for Covid, and those infected would have been advised to follow protocol, and stay indoors. Official NHS advice recommends that people over the age of 18 who test positive for Covid should stay at home and avoid contact with other households for five days.

For those under 18, the advice drops to three days because children and young adults tend to be infectious for less time than adults. Anyone who tests positive and has elderly or vulnerable people in their lives - especially those with a weakened immune system - the NHS advice is to wait ten days before seeing them.

It is important to remain hydrated when dealing with a Covid infection because it is known to leave those infected with headaches and a blocked or runny nose. As well as offering Covid antigen tests, Well Pharmacy offers a Covid booster vaccine service.

Mr Sandhu advised: "The best way to know if you have Covid is to head to your local pharmacy and pick up a test. In the winter months, it can be difficult to know whether you have a cold, flu or Covid because they share similar symptoms.

"If a test confirms you have Covid, you should stay indoors and rest, avoiding contact with other people and wait until you test negative. Younger people seem to be infectious for less time than adults and so usually within three days it is possible that they may be testing negative.

"If you're over 18 then it is recommended that you wait five days to have contact with anyone as this is usually when most over 18's begin to test negative for Covid. It's important that everyone does their part, if you are testing positive for Covid then please do follow the NHS guidelines and don't go to crowded places."