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Parents warned of 12 symptoms of new Cicada Covid strain
Paul Barry, experienced community pharmacist and NHS business partner for Well Pharmacy, is urging the nation to be aware of the 12 signs and symptoms of a new strain known as Cicada.
He said: “The new Cicada variant has now been identified in the UK and is expected to become the dominant strain.
“This deceptive new strain can trick the immune system into not recognising that it is Covid and can allow for the Cicada variant to quickly spread across the UK.
How to tell if you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19
“Young children are prone to picking up infections and could be particularly exposed to this variant given they will have unlikely had a Covid vaccination.
“I would urge everyone to consider a Spring vaccine, given it will be almost five years since they have had a Covid vaccine. While the vaccine is not altered to target the new variant, it still offers the best form of protection against the virus.”
Pharmacists are bracing for a rush of patients wanting Spring vaccinations after the recent Meningitis outbreak exposed the dangers of being unvaccinated against serious disease.
The genetic modifications of the new variant mean that the body may not recognise the virus, allowing it to spread quicker.
Cicada was first identified in Africa before making its way across the globe and as of February 2026, it was in 23 countries including the Netherlands.
In the UK, overall Covid cases remain low with 491 reported cases for the week up until March 25, with 27 covid-related deaths up to March 20.
While there is no current evidence to suggest that Cicada poses a greater risk than other strains of Covid, patients should be cautious that vaccines might prove less effective against this variant.
Paul wants to remind patients of the usual symptoms of Covid-19 including a cough, fever or chills.
Other severe symptoms can include sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, loss of smell or taste and gastrointestinal issues.
While symptoms can vary with rest, it is also important to remain hydrated, drinking plenty of water and ensuring that the medicine cabinet is appropriately stocked up with over-the-counter medications including paracetamol.
Other patients can present asymptomatically, meaning that they won’t feel unwell, but they can still spread the virus.
The NHS has a list of Covid symptoms available to be viewed on their website which suggests testing for Covid-19 if the following are present;
- A high temperature or shivering
- A new continuous cough
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Exhaustion or fatigue
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- Blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or being sick
- Diarrhoea
Last year, the Nimbus and Stratus variants of Covid left patients feeling as though they had swallowed razor blades due to the pain felt when swallowing.
Paul warns Brits to be cautious especially as the new Covid variant spreads and believes that anyone who might be under the weather and believes they have Covid should follow NHS advice.
Paul, from Well Pharmacy, said: “If you have Covid, you should stay indoors and rest, avoiding contact with other people and wait until you feel better or do not have a high temperature.
“Younger people who have tested positive for Covid seem to be infectious for less time than adults, and so usually within three days it is possible that they may be testing negative.
“If you’re over 18 and have tested positive then it is recommended that you wait five days to have contact with anyone as this is usually when most over 18’s begin to test negative for Covid.
“Patients who believe they might be vulnerable for Covid should book in for a Spring vaccine to ensure peace of mind as well as protection against the most severe effects of the virus.
“It’s important that everyone does their part, if you are testing positive for Covid then please do follow the NHS guidelines and don’t go to crowded places.”
On Wednesday, September 2, it was the Concours judging and private viewings to dominate the agenda for the day.
Twelve Concours classes were held across almost a century of motoring, including The Golden Age of Motoring, 100 Years of Carrrozzeria Touring, La Dolce Vita, 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura and Passione Ferrari.
Two new classes also made their debut for 2026, Rare Breeds of the Digital Age and Hypercar Heaven, which recognise the growing importance of contemporary performance cars within the international collector market.
Judging will take place across Wednesday and Thursday, with the show field bringing together a 70-strong collection of classics, supercars and hypercars from around the world.
Some of the cars include Aa Maserati 8C 3000, Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta, a one-off Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale, a very early Porsche 356 Split Window Coupé, Aston Martin DB3S, Lamborghini Miura P400S, Bizzarrini 5300GT, Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet, Bugatti EB110 Prototype, Aston Martin Valiant Prototype and the extraordinary Bugatti Bolide, one of just 40 produced worldwide.
Helen Pike has decided to step down as Master of Magdalen College School at the end of the 2026/27 academic year, the school in east Oxford announced in March.
MCS is one of the top performing schools in the country, ranking in the top 20 independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026.
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The new academic year will start next week, with Ms Pike preparing for one more year in charge before she hands over to her successor, who will take over in September 2027.
The first female Master at MCS, Ms Pike guided the board of governors to one of the most significant decisions in the school’s history, to become fully co-educational from 2027.
While there has been a co-educational sixth form at the school for 15 years, the school last month announced it will become fully co-educational over the coming decade.
Ms Pike said earlier: “I love MCS, and it is a perennial privilege to lead this remarkable school.
“Being Master of MCS is a brilliant job, and I am declaring my intention early in order to give MCS the very best opportunity to find the right Master for September 2027. I shall continue to do all in my power to further the fortunes of this wonderful school until then.
“I look forward to a new phase in my own professional life, one that builds on all that I have enjoyed and achieved in my career during the past 30 years.
“Having encouraged many cohorts of pupils to take sensible risks and to do something creative and different when the time feels right, I am doing just that.”
During Ms Pike’s tenure, MCS has been recognised as a Top 20 Independent School and South East School of the Year by the Sunday Times and won Independent School of the Year for Social Mobility.
Thanking her in his letter to the school community, chair of governors, Bob Price, said earlier this year: “Helen is an outstanding leader and will go with our sincere gratitude and warm thanks for her exceptional headship.
“She will leave the school in excellent shape for her successor.”
Recruitment for a replacement for Ms Pike is now under way.
Last month, Ms Pike congratulated pupils on their “outstanding success” in this year’s A-Level exams, after more than a quarter of pupils (43) achieved three A*s or more and 25 secured all A*s.
In total, 39 pupils from the 2026 cohort are heading to Oxbridge, while 22 have secured places to study medicine.
As part of the school’s expansion plans, MCS is preparing to build a new Science, Library and Partnerships building.
A spokeswoman said the new building will offer an exciting opportunity to reimagine the senior school site as staff look ahead to full co-education.
She added earlier: “With a vision to create a sector-leading science building in the centre of Oxford, the development will enable us to support an ambitious and forward-looking science curriculum, expanding to the emerging and rapidly advancing areas of robotics, AI and Big Data.”
Holding banners which read ‘For f**k’s sake, just stop oil’, the demonstrators took to the road in Parliament Square at noon today (Wednesday, September 2).
This was as Andy Burnham faced his first Prime Minister’s Questions, and many of the protestors glued themselves to the road.
The group demanded that the UK government stop approving all further oil and gas developments, and sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty to stop oil and gas extraction.
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Just Stop Oil say that the police are expected to arrest all those blocking the road, and that one lane has been left free of glued-on action takers to permit access for emergency vehicles.
Andy Burnham is due to make a decision on whether to allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
Reverend James Crote, a Baptist Minister and grandfather from Chesterton near Bicester, said: “Today is my grandson’s first birthday. I have to take action for the sake of his future.
The 69-year-old added: “The government has been dilly-dallying about whether to say yes or no to the Rosebank oil field but, if we want a future for our children, there is no choice – it has to say ‘no’.
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“I am here as a Christian Minister because the Church has to speak out and demand that the government stops approving further oil and gas developments now. It’s time for us all to say ‘For God’s sake, Just Stop Oil’.”
Data from the Met Office indicates that 2026 was the hottest summer in UK recorded history, beating 2025, which was the previous hottest summer on record.
2026 was also one of the driest summers on record, delivering record-low food harvests.
Climbing temperatures have triggered wildfires across the country, and national fire chiefs said the wildfire risk facing the UK is “like nothing we have seen before”.
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Taking action, grandmother Victoria Ann Lynch-Staunton from Leamington Spa, said: “What is happening is beyond a tragedy.”
The 71-year-old added: “I beg everyone to join Just Stop Oil or governments will continue to prioritise endless growth and corporate profit over billions of lives – yours and your children.
“Wake up and smell the coffin. It is the responsibility of all of us to act now!”
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said today: “We are all Just Stop Oil.
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“Every single person who fears deadly wildfires, devastating droughts, and spiralling food shortages is Just Stop Oil.
“The first duty of government is to keep the public safe – but by greenlighting oil and gas drilling, they endanger our survival while corporates and billionaires laugh their way to the bank.
“Every one of us feels alone and powerless in the face of this insanity, but we know there is massive political and public support for our demand.
“So we’re inviting everyone to join us at an online call on 3rd October 2026 – because it’s when we work together that we are powerful and win.”
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