Shine news
13th December 2021
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Regular updates on Covid-19 (Coronavirus) can be found below.
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What should I do to keep safe?
How do I look after myself or someone I care for if they have COVID?
You may have heard in the news about the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus called Omicron. This new variant has been spreading rapidly in South Africa and it has now been confirmed in 57 countries, including the UK. Omicron has a large number of mutations in parts of the virus that affect how it infects the cells of the body, and that are involved in how the vaccines and our immune systems work against the virus. This makes it a “variant of concern” and scientists around the world are working to understand how much of a threat Omicron is.
It is not yet clear whether Omicron does spread more easily, or causes more severe disease than previous coronavirus variants, or whether it will make the vaccines less effective. Early evidence does suggest that Omicron might be more infectious than Delta and might have some increased ability to evade the immune system. Stricter control measures are being introduced in the UK in order to slow the rapid rise in cases of Omicron. This will give scientists the time needed to find out what the changes in the virus mean, in terms of, how easily it spreads, how severe the resulting disease is, and how well the vaccines work against it. In the meantime, we should be cautious and follow public health advice.
What should I do to keep safe?
At a minimum, you must follow the specific guidance in your area, check the government websites for up-to-date and detailed information for: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Dr. Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, has recommended in comments to BBC Radio 4 that people socialise less in order to slow the spread of Omicron, and to make sure they’re up-to-date with their COVID vaccines. In full her advice was: “being careful, not socialising when we don’t particularly need to and particularly going and getting those booster jabs which, of course, people will now be able to have at a three-month interval from their primary course.”
The measures you can take to be careful include:
How do I look after myself or someone I care for if they have COVID?
The NHS have produced a comprehensive guide to looking after look after yourself or someone with coronavirus at home. The guide also includes information about when and where to get medical help if you need it.
There’s no evidence that having spina bifida or hydrocephalus alone automatically increases the risk from coronavirus, or that the vaccine should be less safe or effective in those with the conditions. However, other associated conditions, that some of our members have, can increase coronavirus vulnerability. See our February 2021 update for more information.