Official NHS guidance explains when people should remain at home after catching any strain of coronavirus, as cases of one variant in particular continue to surge.
American Covid, also known as the XFG or Stratus variant, is thought to be behind a sharp rise in infections. Cases have more than doubled, while hospital admissions have increased fivefold.
The latest monthly figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show cases climbed by 230% in September compared with August, rising from 1,374 to 4,589. Hospital admissions also jumped from 950 to 4,939, representing a 420% month-on-month increase.
The UKHSA said the proportion of positive Covid tests recorded in hospitals rose from 5.9% to 7%. More than half of those cases were linked to the American Covid, or Stratus, XFG variant, which was first identified last January and has since spread around the world.
NHS advice says people with a high temperature should stay at home, particularly if they do not feel well enough to attend work or school.
The NHS guidance states: “Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:
do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities
“You can return to your normal activities when you feel better or no longer have a high temperature.
“If your child has mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and feels well enough, they can attend school or childcare.
“Most people do not need to take a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if they have symptoms.
“However, if you choose to take a test and the result is positive:
