School, work and isolation rules as covid cases jump up again

Thousands of new cases of covid have been reported in the UK, with experts suggesting the spike could be caused by a new variant of the disease.

In the week up to April 30, the most recent figures available, there were 1,758 reported new covid cases in the UK. This was a jump up from 1,451 in the previous week.

The new variants could already be dominant as the number of people hospitalised with covid in England has also increased. A new covid mutation called FLiRT, which makes up strains KP.1.1, KP.3 and KP.2 of the virus, now accounts for 40% of all cases in the UK.

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Previously, people who test positive have had to isolate, with parents and carers told to keep children off school, and employees having to ring in sick. However, there are currently no Covid-19 restrictions in the UK.

Government guidance states: "If you have Covid-19 you should try to stay at home. Most people cannot get free Covid-19 tests. You can buy tests in shops but you cannot report the result to the NHS."

NHS advice adds: "Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:

• have a high temperature

• do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

"You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature. If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare."

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