Covid cases are on the rise in the UK, and another sub-variant of Omicron has been detected since being identified in India.
'Centaurus' is the latest sub-variant identified and cases have so far been found in Britain, the US, Germany, Canada, Australia and other countries.
Also known as Omicron variant BA.2.75, it is closely related to the BA.5 and BA.2 variants but may spread even faster than its cousins.
Scientific organisations around the world have marked Centaurus as a 'variant under monitoring', while the World Health Organisation's chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan has stated there isn’t enough data to determine how deadly it could be.
As always, people should err on the side of caution, as understanding the symptoms can only help the situation.
What is Covid Centaurus?
Covid Centaurus is a new highly contagious sub-variant of Omicron.
Known scientifically as BA.2.75, the virus was first discovered in India, though it has reached other countries since, including the UK.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) designated BA.2.75 as a “variant under monitoring” on July 7.
This indicates that the variant may be more transmissible than previous strains, though the data is still being compiled.
Covid Centaurus symptoms
The symptoms of Centaurus are believed to be very similar to previous Omicron variants.
However, as the new sub-variant is still being studied, it is important to understand all the potential symptoms to look out for.
The NHS has listed all the signs and symptoms people may display with Covid-19 :
- 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
How many cases of Covid-19 are there?
The last data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that cases rose by 29% in the week ending July 6.
Currently, positive Covid-19 cases in the UK stands at around one in 19 people in England; one in 16 in Scotland; one in 17 in Northern Ireland, and one in 17 in Wales.
There is no concrete data yet on Centaurus, though it is being studied by scientific teams across the world.
Since being discovered in India, it has been detected in 10 other nations including the UK, Germany, Canada and Australia.
