Rising Covid cases in the West and new variants on the agenda in Turkey

While new Covid variants and hospitalizations are on the rise in Western countries, it has been reported that emergency departments in Turkey have also observed an increase in respiratory complaints and clinical cases suggestive of Covid.

According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Covid-related hospitalizations in the country increased by approximately 50 percent in one week, while the test positivity rate rose from 5.9 percent to 7 percent. While the increase in hospitalizations approached 80 percent in London, the hospitalization rate among the group aged 85 and over reached 12.43 per 100,000 people. It is stated that infections are predominantly driven by the XFG variant, known as 'Stratus' and detected in January 2025, and that this variant can lead to stomach and intestinal problems in addition to cough and fever.

Evaluating the situation in Turkey, Emergency Medicine Specialist Dr. Faculty Member Gültekin Akyol stated that cases applying to emergency departments with fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and muscle-joint pain have increased, but testing rates have dropped compared to the pandemic period. Experts emphasized that supportive treatment may be sufficient in mild cases, while healthcare institutions should be consulted in situations such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and altered consciousness.