Everyone with a cold urged to 'stay home' as three viruses surge in UK

Brits who have a cold have been told to 'stay home' as cases of several awful viruses surge across the UK as well as the usual mix of coughs and bugs.

Covid's 2024 strain, XEC, has seen hospital admissions rise in the past month, while seasonal flu and RSV have also both increased.

While increases in viruses are normal going into winter, people are still being told to take precautions to avoid catching the bugs - as well as others like colds, norovirus, chicken pox, hand foot and mouth and scarlet fever.

Children in particular spread disease at this time of year as they pick up 'back to school bugs'.

The UKHSA says that roughly 1 in 10 cases of Covid are now XEC variant.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

COVID-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks. As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you're eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats - COVID-19, flu and RSV - now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.

"We understand people may be concerned about new variants. Our surveillance shows that where covid cases are sequenced, around 1 in 10 are the 'XEC' lineage. Current information doesn't suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely. The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you're eligible."

Superintendent pharmacist at Boots, Claire Nevinson, shared her top tips to help keep otherwise susceptible children healthy during term time - and beyond.

She said: "With a cold, the best way to recover is to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water. If you think your child might be getting ill, and doesn't feel well enough to do their normal activities, you should try to keep them at home to rest up and recover, avoiding contact with other people."

We all remember singing happy birthday while washing our hands in the pandemic - and she added that good personal hygiene is still important now: "I always recommend encouraging your children to practice good personal hygiene, including regular hand washing with soap and warm water. This helps to remove dirt, viruses and bacteria from hands and helps prevent a virus being transferred to surfaces, other people and objects, which can spread illnesses such as a cold, flu or norovirus infection."

Finally, getting your jabs - "There are vaccinations available to help protect against infectious diseases and viruses. This is the best way to help yourself, your child and others around you from catching and spreading disease, so make sure your child is up to date with their routine childhood vaccinations. The NHS also recommends everyone, including children, should consider a flu vaccination every year.

"The children's flu vaccine is usually given as a quick and painless nasal spray in each nostril and is the best way to protect against flu which often peaks in winter."