Additional Coverage:
Dublin Keeping an Eye on New COVID Variant, Stratus
A new COVID variant, nicknamed Stratus (also known as XFG), is making its presence known in Ireland. Health officials are emphasizing its high contagiousness, while also assuring the public that it’s not currently considered more severe than previous Omicron offspring. The World Health Organization has classified XFG as a “variant under monitoring.”
The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) reports a rise in XFG cases over the past five weeks, coinciding with a general fluctuation in COVID activity throughout the summer. While cases are up, the HSE notes that levels remain below those seen in previous summers.
Last week saw 158 COVID patients hospitalized, with no new ICU admissions or deaths reported. Most hospitalized cases were over 65, predominantly over 80.
One symptom that appears to distinguish Stratus from other variants is a sore throat. However, other familiar symptoms like high temperature, cough, congestion, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell remain common.
The HSE, citing risk assessments from the European Centre for Disease Control and the WHO, states there’s currently no evidence that Stratus impacts immunity or disease severity any differently than other monitored variants. The impact of recent large gatherings, such as the Oasis concerts in Dublin, on COVID-19 spread is still being assessed.
Think You Might Have COVID? Here’s What to Do:
- If you have symptoms: Self-isolate at home from the day your symptoms begin.
- If you test positive but have no symptoms: Stay home for five days from the test date.
- After five days: You can leave home if you only have mild lingering symptoms (like a cough or altered sense of smell). However, avoid contact with high-risk individuals for 10 days from the start of your symptoms, as you could still be infectious.
The HSE reminds everyone that if you test positive, you can still transmit the virus to others.