Expert identifies key Covid symptoms people often mistake as sign of a winter bug

Résumé détaillé

Covid variant TA.1 is increasingly prevalent and now accounts for 25% to 30% of all sequenced cases in the UK, with experts warning a burning sore throat is among the key symptoms to watch for

Experts have warned a blocked nose, sneezing and sore throat are often symptoms of Covid — and sometimes mistaken as signs of a winter bug instead.

More than 800 people died with coronavirus in the most recently analysed week — a rise of 24.6% from the previous week. Almost one third of all Covid cases in the UK are those of the variant TA.1, first identified in June. This — dubbed "American Covid" — can pass for a cold, flu, tonsillitis, a stomach bug or winter tiredness, doctors say.

This is because a burning sore throat, for example, is a prime symptom of those complaints and the new mutation. One doctor has said it has become virtually impossible to determine which virus is responsible.

Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, said: "Covid hasn't gone away. It has just become harder to spot. Most people now have some immunity from vaccines or past infections. So symptoms are often milder and look like everyday winter bugs. With colds, flu and Covid all circulating at once, guessing isn't a good strategy."

The number of patients admitted to hospital with Covid also climbed by 33.5% to 1,168 in the most recently analysed week. Some of these cases, it is said, began with patients experiencing tiredness, aches and/or a temperature, in addition to cold-like symptoms.

And Dr Grant went on to outline the key symptoms, stating: "A blocked nose, runny nose, sneezing and a scratchy throat are classic cold signs. They're also very common with Covid now. That's exactly why so many cases slip under the radar. If your 'cold' comes with unusual tiredness, aches or a temperature, take a test. Do it before you head into work or visit older relatives.

"Flu and Covid share fever, chills, body aches, headaches and a dry cough. Flu tends to hit suddenly, often within hours. Covid can build more gradually over a day or two. But the overlap is huge. You can't reliably tell them apart by symptoms alone.

Wales Online reports fatigue can be a Covid symptom.

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