Why it feels like everyone has a blocked nose and cough at the moment

It’s been a particularly dreary start to autumn this year, with some cold and wet weather for much of the UK in the last few weeks signalling that summer is well and truly behind us. Not only this but it feels like most of us have been experiencing some form of illness at the moment, with blocked noses and coughing rife.

This is quite common at this time of year. As the weather gets colder and wetter we spend more time indoors with other people allowing viruses to spread more easily.

And with the start of the academic year, schoolchildren and university students start to mix together once again after an extended time apart, which germs love. But could it be more than just this?

Although it is more than four years since the start of the Covid pandemic, the UK is still seeing many cases of coronavirus. The most up-to-date data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that in the week up September 18 there were 2,213 recorded cases of Covid in England.

READ MORE: Hospital bosses 'remain concerned' about cancer waiting times as targets continue to be missed

READ MORE: Concerns over dip in MMR booster jab uptake among pre-school children

This is an increase of 530 compared to the week prior - or 31.5 percent. At the same time, health experts have warned that the new XEC strain of Covid, which was first found in Germany, is highly contagious.

It is thought this strain, of which 82 cases have been confirmed in the UK, could become dominant in the coming weeks. So this could be to blame for all the nasty symptoms going around at the moment.

Figures from the UKHSA show that cases of flu are slightly raised, as they usually are at this time of year, although there has been no real increase in September. However, they also show that rhinovirus infections (the most common type of cold) jumped in the week up to September 22. The number of hospital patients testing positive for the virus increased from 10.6 percent to 14 percent – the highest since December last year.

One expert explained that the rise in these symptoms is likely linked to both Covid and the common cold. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, told the i: “There are a lot of people suffering from runny noses and coughs at the moment. This is due to a double whammy of infections with the common cold virus (rhinovirus) and with the Covid virus."

He said it will likely get worse with the return to school and cold weather as well as large gatherings like freshers' week at universities. He recommended that people should try to avoid crowded and poorly-ventilated spaces and wear a face mask if they are concerned.

The UKHSA has urged those eligible to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid viruses.

Those eligible for a flu vaccine include:

• Pregnant women

• People aged 65 and over

• People who live in a care home or who are in long-stay care

• People with a learning disability

• People who live with someone who has a weakened immune system

• People who are homeless

• Carers aged 16 and over

• Frontline health and social care workers

• Staff working in care homes who have regular contact with clients.

People eligible for a Covid booster jab include:

• Over-65s

• People aged between six months and 64 years with health conditions that make them more vulnerable

• People living in care homes for older people

• Frontline health and social-care staff, including in care homes for older people.

The NHS will contact eligible patients directly, but they can also book their own appointments now via the NHS App, GPs, pharmacies, drop-in clinics, or by calling 119.

Symptoms of Covid to look out for include:

• A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

• Shortness of breath

• Feeling tired or exhausted

• An aching body

• A headache

• A sore throat

• A blocked or runny nose

• Loss of appetite

• Diarrhoea

• Feeling sick or being sick.

If you experience symptoms you should, if possible, stay home and avoid contact with others, however, this is no longer mandatory.