Yet, Dr Clarke clarified: "That would only be considered if there were an outbreak of a particularly novel, nasty form of flu or a variant of Covid that may overwhelm the immunity at the moment discovered within the inhabitants."

Thankfully, the Covid professional reckons "the chances of any sort of lockdown or tiered restrictions are vanishingly small".

However, he admitted "neither is impossible" however, because it stands proper now, the priority is "not worth people losing sleep over".

As Pirola rips via the UK, Dr Clarke stated: "People need to be sensible when going about their business over winter.

"If you feel beneath the climate, what looks like a heavy chilly to you is perhaps very critical to another person."

Dr Clarke added: "Don't go spreading germs round your office when you might simply do business from home."

Current symptoms of Covid, as pointed out by the NHS:

• A high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• An aching body
• A headache
• A sore throat
• A blocked or runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling sick or being sick.

While people are no longer required to test for Covid, lateral flow tests are still available to buy.

Some people, no matter how mild their initial illness is, could go on to develop long Covid.

Covid variant Pirola has led health officials to bring forward the roll-out of the Covid booster vaccination.

Those regarded as clinically vulnerable will now be called up for a Covid booster from September 4, instead of mid-October.

Vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer said their Covid vaccines generated strong responses in testing against Pirola, Reuters reported.

As with all vaccines, temporary side effects are to be expected following vaccination.

Dr Clarke told MailOnline: "The unpredictability of Covid and its affect implies that we will not merely ignore this virus."

Preventative measures might assist to guard essentially the most susceptible in society, which embody:

• Free lateral movement exams
• Wearing face masks
• Improved air flow
• Expansion of the Covid vaccine.

People who're eligible for the Covid booster, together with these over the age of 65, shall be contacted by their well being companies when it is their flip to be vaccinated.

Am I eligible for an autumn Covid booster?

The following individuals are eligible for an autumn Covid booster:

• Residents in care houses for older adults
• All adults aged 65 years and over
• People aged six months to 64 years in a scientific threat group
• Frontline well being and social care staff.
• People aged 12 to 64 years who're family contacts of individuals with immunosuppression
• People aged 16 to 64 years who're carers,and workers working in care houses for older adults.