Plan For Your Vaccine Says Top Doc Amid Covid Rise

COVID cases - and hospitalisations - are on the rise earlier than expected this year, according to one of Greater Manchester's leading GPS.

- HELENA VESTY

The virus is now presenting with 'almost any kind of symptoms' as the numbers of people testing positive in hospital grow. However, testing at home is limited now and there are no results being reported to the national system, explains the GP, so knowing exactly how the virus is spreading this summer is difficult.

Dr Helen Wall, Greater Manchester's clinical director of population health, told the M.E.N. how those who are eligible should start planning on getting their vaccine, as the increase in Covid is happening before medics anticipated.

There has been a rise in Covid-19 cases and a small rise in hospital admission rates in most age groups, particularly among the elderly, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed this month. The warnings come as a new variant has taken hold in the UK. Given the name Eris by experts, the variant of the widespread Omicron strain has seen a surge in cases, with one in seven infected now believed to have caught it.

Dr Wall, the region's lead for vaccination and immunisation, said: "From a GP perspective, Covid-19 is presenting with almost any kind of symptom. We are seeing a surge in Covid cases but we're not testing for Covid in the community.