Covid-19 experts are increasingly concerned about a new variant dubbed 'FLiRT' (Fresh Lineage of Rapid Transmission). According to The Mirror, hospitalisation rates show an uptick in infections, with the figure at 3.31 per 100,000 people around June 16 - a 23% increase from the preceding week.
Many might instinctively grab an old Covid test if displaying symptoms such as fever, cough or general fatigue. However, it's crucial to remember that these kits have an expiry date and should not be used once this has passed. Social media content creator and aircraft mechanic, known as 'Flying Chaos', experienced this firsthand and shared his experience on TikTok.
"If you have at home Covid test kits sitting around, check their expiration date because it could be expired," the 23-year-old urged on his account. READ MORE: The full list of Covid symptoms in 2024 as hospital admissions increase READ MORE: The number of people in hospital with Covid in Wales has almost doubled this month "And if they're expired, they could give you a false positive or a false negative. We're not able to go back to work because of a possible false positive - two possible false positives.
Check your Covid tests, make sure they're not expired please! ", reports the Mirror . Standard Covid-19 rapid antigen tests, which include a nose swab, usually have a shelf-life of two years, per NHS instruction. But it's vital to check the expiry printed on your kit as some may differ.
Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist.
