Cold and flu season is in full swing, and in terms of Covid there are many variants currently circulating. According to epidemiologist Dr Katrine Wallace, when you have this many variants circulating, it increases people’s chances of getting reinfected.
Taking to her TikTok channel, where she has amassed more than 282,000 followers, Dr Kat explained: “We are seeing many what we call ‘novids’ getting Covid now for the first time and this may be due to this rapid increase in the variant called JN.1.”
Covid JN.1 is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant, which emerged in November 2021. But it’s more transmissible compared to previous strains – experts say it spreads faster than other Omicron variants, although it doesn’t cause more severe disease.
Dr Kat said at the end of November in the US JN.1 accounted for 8 percent of Covid cases, but it’s now estimated to have risen to about 40 percent, or even more in some parts of the country.
She continued: “So it contains mutations, this variant JN.1, that make it more contagious. However JN.1 does not appear to cause greater severity than other variants.
“Evidence does suggest that the new vaccines should be effective against JN.1 and home tests do work.”
But the best thing you can do to prevent severe Covid is to get your vaccine, added Dr Kat.
Symptoms of JN.1 Covid variant
Family doctor Dr Jen Caudle also took to her TikTok channel to warn people of the symptoms of JN.1 to look out for.
She said: “As a family doctor, a number of my patients who have gotten Covid or had Covid, recently are mentioning seeing upper respiratory symptoms – runny nose, cough, congestion, things like that, along with muscle aches and pains.
“Now I can’t say for sure if they have JN.1 variant, I don’t know that for sure, but that is sort of what I’m seeing.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does say that we still need more data and information to really know if there’s a certain symptom set that belongs to JN.1, like if there’s a certain type of symptom we’re seeing particularly with this variant, it maybe a little too early to tell right now.
“But the CDC does also say, and I think this is really important to know, that the symptoms, and how severe the symptoms are, usually depend more on a person’s immunity and overall health rather than which variant causes the infection.
“They also mention many of the Covid variants have similar symptoms. So just keep that in mind.”
New report says Covid could trigger “heart failure pandemic”
The UK and China have also seen a surge in Covid infections in recent weeks, and experts have now warned the rise in cases, especially due to the JN.1 variant, could lead to potential heart issues.
Scientists from Japan’s top research institute Riken issued the warning in a new report.
They said the ACE2 receptions, which the coronavirus clings to within human cells, are “very common” in the heart.
This means many people who catch the virus may suffer from “reduced cardiac function”.
What to do if you have Covid
While it’s no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms, the NHS recommends the following.
If you or your child have tested positive:
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over
- avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test
