Hospital admissions with Covid rose from 0.81 per 100,000 people to 1.2 per 100,000 people in the week to September 24, an increase of almost 50%. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says this is an expected level for this time of year.
Flu cases have also risen slightly, though they remain at a "baseline" level for the season. Of those tested via a GP swab, 10.7% tested positive for flu, up from 8.3% the previous week.
Recognising the symptoms
Typical Covid symptoms include a high temperature, a persistent new cough, and a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell. Those with Covid may also suffer from fatigue, breathlessness, a sore throat, a runny nose, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, body aches, and a loss of appetite.
Most people recover within a few weeks, although for some it may take significantly longer. For certain individuals, however, the illness can prove more serious, with symptoms continuing for an extended period.
Flu symptoms tend to appear very suddenly and can include a sudden high temperature, a dry cough, headaches, body aches, a sore throat, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite. Symptoms are largely similar in children, though they may also suffer from earache, sore eyes, swollen glands and low energy levels.
Flu vaccine availability
The flu jab provides protection against the virus and is offered on the NHS every autumn and winter to those most at risk of serious illness. Most eligible people can get the flu vaccine from October 1, 2026. Some people, including anyone who is pregnant, can get vaccinated from September 1, 2026.
The free NHS flu vaccine is available to those who are pregnant, aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by March 31, 2027), aged 18 to 64 with certain long-term health conditions, the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receiving a carer's allowance. It is also offered to people experiencing homelessness or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter, those living in a care home, and those living with someone who has a weakened immune system.
Children aged two to three years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions are also eligible for the flu vaccine. The majority of people who catch flu will recover within a few days to less than two weeks, although some may go on to develop complications such as pneumonia, which can in certain cases prove fatal.
The common cold
Colds typically clear up on their own within one to two weeks. Symptoms develop gradually over two to three days, with the most common being a runny nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, and general fatigue and tiredness.
