As you know, I border on a borough with a high incidence rate and it has now been confirmed in one of my children's schools, actually someone in his class. We were given that information at the beginning of the week regarding symptoms being different. The email said headache was the main symptom, sneezing/block nose (which I thought will be difficult during hayfever period) upset stomach and aching legs. It said if you had any of the symptoms along with a fever and an LFT was negative to not go into school and wait for a PCR test.
My neighbours had the Indian variant too, the Mum works in a school. The Mum & Dad had both had one vaccine, the children none. Mum and children have gotten over it but the Dad has had a stay in hospital and paramedics have been out to give oxygen and he doesn't sound very well.
Also, as it doesn't appear to be common knowledge...this was on one of the emails from school:
^Cases of the new COVID-19 variant first identified in India (known as VOC-21APR-02 or
B1.617.2) have recently been identified in XXXX. These cases are not related to
travel and include cases in children and adults in all education settings.
We are working closely with Public Health England to investigate the cases and will undertake
additional testing where this is appropriate.
Evidence suggests that this variant spreads more easily than previous strains. In nearby
X, cases of this variant are increasing, and there has been a rapid rise in cases overall,
particularly amongst children and young people.
The emergence of this new strain locally, and the speed with which it has spread in X, is
a reminder that we must all continue to be cautious and do what we can to control the spread
of the virus^
^Around 1 in 3 people do not have symptoms of COVID-19; increased testing will help to
find other cases, and to limit the spread of this disease.
To access testing please visit www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
Latest guidance from the Director of Public Health for XXXX is that schools
should continue to use all preventative measures, including face coverings, to help to
reduce the transmission of COVID-19 cases in our area^
then there is lots of attached information about where to get tests etc