It seems a bit bonkers during this glorious late summer heatwave to be warning you about another wave of COVID. But several friends have had the beastly virus – which seems to be taking an age for some people to get over this time round – and I’m fielding questions. So here goes:

There are two new variants causing some concern: BA.2.86 (Pirola) and EG.5 (Eris).

The symptoms are broadly the same as before: cough, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, fever/chills, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing.

While the new variants are not believed to be more dangerous, there is a problem in that they may not be picked up by current OTC tests. NB If you have tests left over from the last wave, do check the expiry date.

That means there may be a greater risk of people not taking enough time to convalesce and possibly developing Long COVID (aka Post-COVID Syndrome). This means they cannot shake off the effects of the virus months after first getting ill. Symptoms of Long COVID include breathlessness, chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety and stress. Research is ongoing into treatment but it’s difficult to shift. (More information here.)

So I asked pharmacist Shabir Daya, co-founder of Victoria Health – our go to website for all health and wellbeing products - for his advice on supporting your immune system and also on shaking off the virus as efficiently as possible:

Daily Immunity/£29 for 60 vegetarian capsules. This combination of vitamins and herbs is for adults and children over 12 to prime the immune system to help protect from seasonal infections.

BetterYou D1000 Vegan Vitamin D Oral Spray/£9.71, for adults; Vitamin D400IU Junior Daily Oral Spray/£5.59, for children over 3. As well as getting out in the sun as much as possible now, it’s wise to take a supplement.  The BetterYou products come in a super simple spray that you squish on the inside of your cheek once a day. We’re all recommended to top up our vitamin D3 levels during the winter and recent research shows people with lower levels are more likely to suffer from Long COVID. The lower levels of vitamin D in patients with Long COVID were most notable in those with brain fog, according to research.

Solgar Vitamins Ubiquinol 100mg/£57.50 for 50 softgels. The lack of energy and ongoing fatigue experienced during and after COVID is likely due, at least in part, to depletion of Co-Enzyme Q10, which is responsible for, among many other important activities, helping the mitochondria (the powerhouses in our cells) release energy. Not cheap, I know, but worth investing in if you can. The dose is 1-2 capsules daily, with meals.

AND ANOTHER THING!

Scientists have now come down firmly on the side of wearing a well-fitting mask in crowded, ill-ventilated places. Remember that the virus is an airborne aerosol, which can last up to 16 hours.

My family is definitely on board with wearing masks. I’m a fan of SP Science Silver Life Face Covering, which comes in three sizes – Adult, Small Adult/Young Teenager and Child – all £29.69 for 2. Silver Life Face Masks have been extensively tested and are reusable for up to 100 washes at 40 degrees C.

Prize Draws