Boris Johnson says coronavirus surge is a 'serious concern'
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According to a Public Health England report released on Friday, nine in every 10 new coronavirus cases are now the Delta variant. PHE data also indicated that Delta, first identified in India, is 64 percent more transmissible than the previously dominant Alpha variant that originated in Kent, as the UK now faces battling another strain of the virus and the race to get second vaccine doses administered ramps up.
Symptoms of the Delta variant
While the common symptoms of Covid had become well known – cough, fever, loss of smell or taste – the Delta variant is presenting a different set of symptoms, researchers say.
The three key symptoms are now:
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
Fever remains quite common but a loss of smell no longer appears in the top 10 symptoms, Professor Tim Spector, who runs the Zoe Covid Symptom study and app, said.
He said: “Since the start of May, we have been looking at the top symptoms in the app users – and they are not the same as they were.”
He went on: “This variant seems to be working slightly differently.
“People might think they’ve just got some sort of seasonal cold and they still go out to parties and they might spread around to six other people.
“We think this is fuelling a lot of the problem.
“The message here is that if you are young, you are going to get milder symptoms anyway.
“It might just feel like a bad cold or some funny ‘off’ feeling – but do stay at home and do get a test.”
However, despite the Government still saying the most important symptoms to look for with Covid are new continuous cough, a high temperature and loss of or change in smell or taste, research has long shown a range of other symptoms.
The Imperial College London React study of more than a million people in England – when the Alpha or UK variant was dominant – found a wide range of additional symptoms linked to Covid.
Chills, loss of appetite, headache and muscle aches were together most strongly linked with being infected, alongside classic symptoms.
The study said: “There are several other symptoms linked with Covid-19.
“These other symptoms may have another cause and are not on their own a reason to have a Covid-19 test.
“If you are concerned about your symptoms, seek medical advice.”
The official Government advice is to get a PCR test if you develop Covid symptoms, and stay at home until you get your results.
Everyone in England is also entitled to two free lateral flow tests a week in a bit to catch any carriers who might not be presenting symptoms.
The advice says: “About one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still infect others.
“This is why everyone is advised to get tested regularly.”
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