Health

Experts Warn of Severe Illness Amid Surge in Covid-19 Cases and New Symptoms

Jul 25, 2024 1 min read

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Health experts in Ireland have issued a major health alert following a rise in COVID-19 cases, which has resulted in an increase in severe disease. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) reported 981 cases in the week leading up to July 6, with 982 cases confirmed in week 29. This marks an increase from the 847 cases reported in week 28. Hospitalizations have also increased, with 399 cases in week 29 compared to 330 the previous week. Outbreak notifications from healthcare establishments rose by 17, totaling 67 outbreaks. Public health officials are concerned that increased community transmission could lead to more outbreaks, putting vulnerable populations at greater risk.

In the UK, Superdrug has reported a 319% increase in sales of COVID-19 lateral flow tests and a 297% rise in cold and flu relief sachets, indicating a potential surge in illness. The retailer also noted a significant rise in Vitamin D sales, which increased by 116%, and Zinc sales, which rose by 58%. This uptick coincides with an increase in hospital COVID-19 positivity rates from 3.72% to 4.35%. Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, attributed the surge to new variants and waning immunity. Symptoms that differentiate COVID-19 from the common cold include a high fever, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell. The UK Health Security Agency advised individuals with respiratory infection symptoms to stay home and avoid contact with others until symptoms subside.

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