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The darkest days of the covid pandemic are hopefully behind us, but we are still living with the virus in our communities and many people remain vulnerable to the effects of covid-19.  Hospital admissions in the UK are slowly increasing as Autumn and Winter approach and new covid virus strains have been detected.  So what can we do to protect ourselves and stay covid-free throughout the autumn and winter to come? New Covid-19 variant and symptoms Two new covid variants called Pirola and Eris have been detected in Autumn 2023. Although cases do remain relatively low compared to the height of the pandemic, the strains are spreading and cases are slowly on the increase.  Symptoms of the new covid variant are: a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste shortness of breath feeling tired or exhausted an aching body a headache a sore throat a blocked or runny nose loss of appetite diarrhoea feeling sick or being sick. Many of these are also symptoms of other illnesses such as flu and colds but if you have one or more of these symptoms it’s advisable that you take a covid test.  Covid home testing The best way to know if you have Covid is to take a lateral flow test. These are no longer free, but you can order a lateral flow covid test kit online. It might be advisable to order a box of lateral flow covid test kits to have to hand for the upcoming flu season.  Check out our blog on how to properly take a covid test at home. What are the latest rules in 2023 if you test positive for Covid? If you test positive for covid-19 there are currently no legal requirements for you to self-isolate. However, the NHS guidelines are that you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with others for 5 days. Children are advised to stay at home for 3 days as young people tend to be infectious for a shorter period of time.  If you do need to leave home while you have Covid, the Government website suggests you take the following precautions to minimise the risk of infecting others: wear a well-fitting face covering or a face mask avoid crowded or enclosed spaces such as public transport, large social gatherings and enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces exercise outdoors and away from others always remember good hand and respiratory hygiene. Covid Vaccinations and Boosters The mass vaccination programmes for covid that happened during the height of the pandemic have now been scaled down and will be focussed on giving vaccines to the most vulnerable in the community.  The UK’s vaccination programme for Autumn/Winter 2023, as it stands, will offer one dose to everyone aged 65 and over, residents in care homes for the elderly, anyone aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group and health and social care staff. It is expected that vaccinations for under 18’s will be available later in the year.  Over 20 million people are expected to be eligible for a covid vaccination booster this winter in the UK. The COVID-19 vaccine will reduce the chance of you becoming severely unwell from COVID-19 this winter.  General Advice for Staying Covid-Free Face masks - while there are no current legal requirements for the wearing of face masks on public transport, healthcare settings or public buildings, it would be good practice to continue wearing a facemask if you are concerned about the spread of the virus.  Also, if you are experiencing symptoms of covid (or any flu-like symptoms) and you do have to go out you should wear a face mask to prevent spreading your own germs to others.  Hand Hygiene - the basic rules of good hygiene include regular hand and surface cleaning with soap or something like surface disinfectant wipes. Germs and viruses can easily be transferred from surface to surface via your hands.  Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. You should wash your hands after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose and before you eat or handle food. Wash your hands after coming into contact with surfaces touched by many others, such as handles, handrails and light switches, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.  Finally Covid-19 is still spreading and it still has the ability to make people very unwell. Help protect your friends, family, and local community by following sensible covid-19 precautions like these, as well as ensuring you have taken up all invitations for vaccination if you are eligible.

With Covid-19, and its various strains, continuing to rage its way across the globe the medical community is beginning to recognise that there are some often serious, longer term effects of contracting the virus. While for many Covid-19 sufferers the infection and its symptoms will last for just a few days, it’s becoming clear that for others those symptoms can continue for many months afterwards, leaving them with some unexpected and undesirable long-term conditions. Known as ‘long-COVID’, it has been estimated that 1 in 4 people who have contracted the virus will suffer from longer term, post-COVID complications and symptoms. When does Covid become Long-Covid? Recovery from Covid-19 is different for everybody but according to the NHS website, many people feel better in a few days or weeks with most people making a full recovery within 12 weeks. But, for some, those symptoms can last longer and if you’re still suffering symptoms after 3 months, it is likely you are experiencing ‘long-covid’. The chances of having long-covid don’t appear to be related to how ill you are when you first contract coronavirus, so it is very possible to experience long-term problems after initially having had only very mild covid symptoms. What are the symptoms of Long-covid? There is no medical definition or definitive list of symptoms connected with Long-Covid but one of the most common symptoms being reported is crippling fatigue, with some patients being left exhausted after just a short walk or mild physical exertion. Others symptoms include: breathlessness, a cough that won't go away, joint pain, muscle aches, hearing and eyesight problems, headaches, loss of smell and taste, unexplained rashes or sores as well as damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and gut. Other more serious symptoms, including organ malfunctions and depression, could plague sufferers for months after initial infection. What treatment can I get? If you are finding that you’re not recovering from the virus as quickly as you might expect (say 4 or 5 weeks after the initial virus), then you should contact your GP for more advice. The NHS has a very useful "Your Covid Recovery Plan" with advice and suggestions for how to carry on with personal treatment and rest at home, or when to seek further assistance from your GP or even a hospital setting. It also provides links to help with your employment rights and how you might begin to return to work. The recovery plan recommends following the rule of "three Ps" in order to slowly recoup energy after having the virus: Pace yourself so you don't push yourself too hard, and make sure you have plenty of rest Plan your days so your most tiring activities are spread out across the week Prioritise - think about what you need to do and what can be put off Your GP may wish to see you for a blood test, chest X-Ray and possibly heart monitoring to find out more about your symptoms and to rule out any other causes. The symptoms of long-covid could be having a big impact on your life and if they are severe enough to be preventing you from working or living a normal life you might be referred to a specialist rehabilitation service for longer term care and support. Need more support? We're always here to help. For all your Medical and Homecare supplies give us a call at Mediworld. We have over 40 years experience in medical, surgical and home health supplies and we're always on hand to chat if you need support or advice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

What does wearing a face mask do? The benefits of wearing a mask are undeniable, and it has proven protective effects against infections. There are, however, other possible hazards and adverse effects that demand consideration. This especially refers to usage among the general public. Wear a mask to protect yourself and others By lowering the possibility of spreading viruses, wearing a high-quality mask coupled with immunization, self-testing, and physical separation can help protect you and others. Help not spread your illness This is why the CDC and the World Health Organization advise wearing a mask even if you feel in good health (WHO). It's one approach to lessen the risk of unintentionally infecting others, especially those who are more likely to get very sick if exposed to any kind of virus. When can we all ditch the masks? When everyone is vaccinated The research found at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee that healthcare workers who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 75% less likely to have asymptomatic infections. These findings served as the basis for the US CDC's decision to drop the mask mandate in the United States. These findings further implied that those who have received a COVID-19vaccination and did not exhibit any signs of sickness were considerably less likely to spread COVID-19 unknowingly and other viruses. When the face masks restrictions are lifted Due to the difficulties in determining whether a person who is not wearing a mask has actually received a vaccination or if they are simply tired of wearing them, it may ultimately be simpler in many areas to lift mask restrictions for everyone or none of the population depending on vaccination rates and virus risk in a population. If you are unsure about your surroundings, it is better to wear a mask for your safety and for everyone else around you. Some Nations Who Stopped Wearing Face Masks Israel was the first nation to revoke the requirement for face masks in April 2021 after achieving low rates of symptomatic COVID-19 sickness. Approximately 70% of Israeli citizens have received vaccinations. New Zealand has been commended from the beginning for its quick and successful response to the pandemic. The New Zealand government stopped the spread of COVID-19 among its population via non-pharmaceutical measures like tracking, tracing, and isolation of cases. South Africa is mask-free. In the recent government gazette, South Africa's health minister Joe Phaahla lifted all of the nation's remaining coronavirus-related restrictions including the wearing of masks, restrictions on gathering sizes, and border inspections for COVID-19. As of writing, some nations have also lifted the wearing of face masks outdoors but when indoors it is often still mandatory to wear a face mask. However, it is not too late to work on lifting the mandatory face mask law if everyone is cooperating with the vaccinations and other health measures. Are we ready to ditch face masks? Pandemics can be scary and ditching face masks is a personal choice, but taking a few simple steps can help to protect yourself and your family. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, wash your hands frequently, and stay at home if you’re sick. These simple steps can help to protect you from the threat of the pandemic flu and keep you healthy this flu season. What should you do if you are not wearing a mask after coughing or sneezing? The CDC advises using a tissue to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing when not wearing a mask, and to use the inside of the elbow if none are available. After any cough or sneeze, good hand hygiene is advised. What are the materials for making masks for the coronavirus disease? Three layers of fabric should be used to create fabric masks: Cotton or another absorbent material forms the inner layer. Non-woven, non-absorbent material in the middle, like polypropylene. Non-absorbent outer layer is made of polyester or a polyester blend. Visit Mediworld to find the best medical face mask for your needs!