UK Covid cases rise as Stratus and Nimbus variants spread

A leading pharmacist is urging people who test positive for Covid to stay at home and avoid contact with others as case numbers rise and two recently identified variants have become more common in the United Kingdom. Officials reported 447 cases in the week to September 24, an increase of 22 from the previous week, and recorded four deaths in the seven days to September 19, a 5 percent rise on the week before. Hospital admissions are also up, with 157 people admitted in the week to August 31, a 15.6 percent increase that brought the number of patients being treated in hospital to 1,162.

George Sandhu, Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, said the variants known as Stratus and Nimbus are spreading and that many infected people have reported throat symptoms. "The Stratus strain of Covid is spreading at quite an alarming rate," he said, and advised anyone testing positive to isolate at home for the five day period recommended by the NHS.

Health officials say symptoms for the new variants remain broadly similar to earlier strains, though clinicians have noted reports of a hoarse throat with Stratus and a sharp, sore-throat sensation described by some patients with...