FLiRTing with danger? Keep calm and carry, within reason, says Covid testing expert

A leading testing expert says that the latest FLiRT variants of the Omicron JN.1 Covid strain are no more likely to produce severe symptoms than previous strains, despite rising concern in the press and social media. However, he says the new Labour Government should reintroduce official testing and cautions people with underlying conditions not to join summer sports crowds.

A leading testing expert says that increasing concern about the latest Covid-19 FLiRT variants of Omicron JN.1, are unfounded. The latest figures don’t reveal an unexpectedly sharp upturn in the number of cases or, in particular, the severity of symptoms among otherwise healthy adults this summer.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: ‘The latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) do not show the significant surge in cases and symptoms some alarmist headlines and social media trends would have you believe.

‘The number of daily Covid-related deaths on 28 June (the most recent data available) was 177, far below 12 January’s 370 deaths. The number of random sample new cases recorded by the UKHSA on 1 July was 387, which was actually a notable fall from the 525 recorded new cases on 26 June. While this does not give an accurate number of overall cases, it does give a picture of whether the number is rising or falling.

‘As of 30 June, hospitalisations were steady at 4.1 per 100,000 of the population. While it’s true that 14.2% of Covid tests proved positive in the latest figures, there has been no sudden spike in cases. Meanwhile, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in the week ending 21 June there were 177 deaths involving Covid-19. This equates to 1.7% of all deaths registered in England and Wales that week. To put that into perspective, 13.7% of registered deaths that week involved influenza or pneumonia, a total of 1,452 deaths.

‘That’s not to say Brits should be entirely complacent. We must remember that Covid is not a typical respiratory disease that retreats during the summer and returns in the winter. Covid is likely to return several times a year in waves and people with underlying health conditions should alter their expectations and behaviour to take this into account.

‘It’s also likely to have been some months since those who qualified for a Covid jab were last vaccinated and, therefore, immunity levels will have dropped somewhat. This is why London Medical Laboratory believes that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) should never have been instructed by the former Conservative Government to end national Covid testing. Regular reliable data would keep health professionals better informed about current common symptoms and case levels. Equally importantly, it would help to swiftly disprove the more sensational stories about Covid surges or scary new FLiRT variants.

‘In the absence of continuous, reliable data, anyone concerned about Covid should continue to be vaccinated when offered the opportunity and ensure they remain generally healthy to fight symptoms. It’s useful to know that revolutionary new blood tests introduced in the last few years mean that people have swift access to a vast array of information about their health through a simple finger-prick test, which can even be taken in their own home.

‘For example, London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile blood test monitors seven key areas of health. It includes muscle and bone profile, liver & kidney function, risk of diabetes (by checking levels of HbA1c), cholesterol levels, iron levels and even the risk of gout.

‘London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile blood test can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 120 selected pharmacies and health stores.