any symptoms of the coronavirus are now similar to those suffered by people with the flu or cold, the government has admitted. He quietly added nine new symptoms to Covid’s official list of what is likely to occur, such as sore throat, fatigue and headache. He had previously had the three traditional symptoms – a fever, a new and persistent cough and a loss or change in taste or smell – despite the fact that experts said Covid was causing a wider range of effects. The dominant Omicron variant and the more infectious BA.2 strain have led to a wider range of symptoms than before in the pandemic. According to nhs.uk, the signs of Covid-19 that people should watch out for also include:
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– breathing difficulty; feeling tired or exhausted – a body that hurts – a headache? – sore throat; – clogged or runny nose, – loss of appetite – diarrhea feeling unwell or unwell. A note on the site adds: “The symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.” Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist at ZOE COVID Study, told Standard: “Everyone at ZOE is incredibly happy to see that the NHS has finally updated the official Covid-19 symptom list after two very long years of pressure and contribution. “Adding more symptoms is definitely a step in the right direction and could help reduce infections as we go along. However, although this is good news, I would like to see the range of symptoms change, as the NHS list places too much emphasis on symptoms such as fever and anosmia, which we know are much less common since the onset of Omicron variant. According to the ZOE COVID study, the top five symptoms reported by positive Covid test participants were: runny nose (83 percent), fatigue (71 percent), sore throat (69 percent), headache (69 percent) and sneezing (68 percent). It happened as the number of infections across the UK reached an all-time high, with an estimated five million people currently infected. The number of Covid patients in London hospitals reached a two-month high of 2,448 last Friday. The news that the list of symptoms has been updated came just days after the government stopped offering free universal Covid-19 tests. Public health workers’ advisers in London’s boroughs sent a letter to the government requesting a three-month extension to the availability of free lateral flow tests. They said: “We remain concerned that these figures are below the national average and underscore the need to reduce pollution and save lives. Testing is a proven way to limit transmission. “We urge the government to reconsider and agree to provide free lateral flow tests for another quarter. “Londoners are already under pressure from the cost of living crisis. Buying a test will not be an option for many. “Maintaining a free supply will allow us to maximize support for trials and thus reduce the likelihood of avoiding infection and costly treatment.” Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States have had longer lists of symptoms for some time. But in the UK the list has only had three symptoms on the list for almost two years.
