By Katie-Ann Gupwell

Copyright mirror

Brits are being urged to make three simple changes now to try and prevent being hit with the new strain of Covid-19 that is currently sweeping the UK. The strain, known as Stratus, has two variants – XFG and XFG.3 , which were first discovered back in January of this year. By June, the World Health Organisation had declared XFG to be “under monitoring” against the backdrop of “increasing proportions globally.” However, by September 3, the UK Health Security Agency reported a 7.1% increase in coronavirus cases across England compared to seven days earlier, even though it is unclear how many are affected by the XFG strain. Now a GP has urged people to make three changes as the virus continues to spread across the UK, and he said they could help to prevent you from contracting the virus. Dr Kader, took to his TikTok channel known as ask.doctor.k, where he explained exactly what people need to know about the symptoms . Dr Kader said: “Here’s what you need to know about the new Covid variant that’s hit the UK. It’s called Stratus or XFG, and actually the symptoms are a little bit different when compared to the previous variants. “You may have noticed that everyone is getting sick this week, and we’ve seen a huge rise in Covid cases in hospital patients, and part of the reason why infections are spreading fast is because the weather is changing, it’s getting a bit colder, people are staying indoors more and just passing the bugs to each other. “The new variant seems to be starting with ear, nose and throat symptoms, so most people are complaining about a really hoarse voice or a super sore throat . It also seems to present with more GI symptoms. A lot of people are complaining about nausea, vomiting, bloating [and] acid reflux.” However, he did add that there’s some good news, as the variant appears to cause a “milder” infection when compared to the previous variants. Even so, he said it’s also thought to be more contagious. This is why he encouraged people to make three instant changes to try and prevent getting sick. They could really help you to fight off the virus, and they include: If you feel unwell, he also noted it’s best to stay at home until you feel better. By taking these steps, you should be able to limit the spread of the virus. While coronavirus is now an incredibly common disease, Dr Gareth Nye at the University of Salford previously told The Mirror his thoughts on the matter . He stressed that it’s still important to take precautions. People aged 65 and above, babies and adults with pre-existing medical conditions or weakened immune systems are at a greater risk of more serious complications of coronavirus. This means, if you believe you are ill with any form of coronavirus, it is important to test yourself and self-isolate. Dr Nye summarised: “Although coronavirus is now a very common disease, it is still dangerous to a large percentage of the population. And so, if you think you have coronavirus, testing and isolation should still take place, the same advice applies if you have any illness.” If you think you may have coronavirus, it’s advised you do a test. Further information about coronavirus is available at the NHS website .