A nasty cold virus is sweeping across the UK and it’s leaving sufferers feeling ill for weeks.
Winter is here and the countdown to Christmas is on, but what would the festive season be without the fear of catching a seasonal bug and it ruining any plans you have over the coming weeks?
According to reports, a nasty virus is going about and sufferers have reported symptoms including fever, aches, chills, headaches, blocked noses, coughs and extreme fatigue.
Not only does it come with a list of rather unpleasant symptoms, it is also being said to go on and on, leaving those affected housebound for weeks.
PxHere / stock photo
Those who have had the pleasure of experiencing the brutal cold have taken to Reddit to spread the word – and hopefully not the virus.
In a thread on social media site Reddit, one person wrote: “Just coming off the back end of a brutal cold that’s lasted about 3 weeks, during which my sinuses have been almost completely closed, relaxing only for brief periods while also producing mucus at an alarming rate.
“Emerging from my bed this morning, I could breathe through my nose again. I could smell things.
“It still feels like somebody poured Ready Brek into the back of my face, but it’s finally over and life is beautiful again.”
Karolina Grabowska / Pexels
Another who also caught the nasty cold said they were still housebound the following week, as they said: “I caught it in October, I was bedridden for days and then spent another week housebound, constantly looking at my phone to see if it had been 4 hours since my last dose of paracetamol.”
They went on to add how it felt ‘worse than any winter bug I’d had before 2020’.
A third person also felt the lasting effects saying: “It’s been a total b******, had me in bed for a couple of days and feeling s*** for a couple of weeks now.
“I can totally recommend Otrivine nasal spray for the blocked nose/sinus bit though.”
Dave Deploige / Wikimedia
Another added: “Currently on day 5 of it. . Feel absolutely lousy. So much mucus it’s ridiculous. Already feeling anxious about having to call in sick again tomorrow but I refuse to go back to work until I’m well enough.
“Won’t get thanked for going in and certainly won’t get thanked by colleagues if I spread this around. Just hoping I’m all clear for Christmas. Get well soon everyone.”
However, experts are saying there is no evidence to suggest that viruses which cause colds are any more severe than they were pre-pandemic.
One reason may be because we’ve forgotten how rotten they really can make us feel after not catching them as much throughout the Covid lockdowns, social distancing and wearing face masks.
Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels
Speaking to ABC News in February, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, said: “All of us have forgotten about what common colds used to be like, and we’re getting them now again.
Lack of exposure to viruses that cause cold symptoms may also be playing a role. People who haven’t had a cold in a while won’t have as much immunity to viruses, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at UCSF, also told the publication.
“Lack of exposure to viruses over time might make a cold seem much worse than before, because you haven’t been exposed a little bit along the way,” he said.
The NHS’s advice for sufferers of a winter cold virus is to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. You can also drink a hot lemon with honey to help soothe a sore throat.
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham. “We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
#CHARGED | We have charged two men with murder, after further suspected human remains were found this morning in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles. This follows earlier discoveries around Salford.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
Detectives investigating the discovery of a torso in Kersal Dale have found more human remains around Greater Manchester. GMP released a statement on the weekend, revealing they had opened four scenes for extensive searches – one of them at a warehouse in Bury, and three in Salford. Searches took place at Blackleach reservoir, where human remains were found, and a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Officers believe they have now identified the man, who they believe to be a man in his 60s that lived in Salford, and his family have been informed. Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder probe, with officers saying they are thought to have lived with the victim.
Greater Manchester Police / Facebook
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for this investigation, said in a statement at Blackleach reservoir yesterday, Sunday April 28th: “We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.
“From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.
“Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford.
“Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.
“We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.”
#UPDATE | Following developments this weekend in #Salford we are confident we have identified the victim, with his family being supported since.
This is after further human remains were found, with two men remaining in custody for questioning.
He continued: “We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.
“Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
“We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.
“While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”