Everyone with a cold told to 'stay at home' as three viruses surge in the UK

ok.co.uk:

Brits battling the common cold are being told to 'stay home' amid a surge in numerous severe viruses, including the 2024 strain of Covid, XEC, which has seen a spike in hospital admissions recently.The typical winter coughs and bugs are being joined by rising cases of flu and RSV.

With an uptick in virus cases expected during the colder months, experts have stressed the importance of staying vigilant to avoid a range of illnesses such as colds, norovirus, chicken pox, hand foot and mouth disease, and scarlet fever.

Kids are especially at risk for spreading germs as they return to school after the holidays. The Express highlights how these 'back to school bugs' can quickly move through classrooms.

UKHSA's data shows that XEC variant is responsible for around one-tenth of current Covid infections. In light of this, Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, consolidated these concerns. "COVID-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks.