THROUGHOUT the coronavirus pandemic we have all become familiar with the three main signs of infection.
But experts have warned that these are likely to be different in the Omicron variant which has made its way to the UK in the last week.
So far 42 cases of the variant have been detected in the UK and Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said it is “very likely” more cases of the highly mutated strain Omicron will emerge.
If you catch Omicron, or if you are a contact of someone who has caught it then you have to isolate for ten days, regardless of your vaccine status.
But experts have said that Omicron could be hard to spot, as it might not be as obvious as previous strains.
The NHS continues to say that a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell are the key symptoms of Covid-19.
Professor Tim Spector, of Kings College London and head of the ZOE Symptom Tracker app has long called for the official symptom list to be updated as he said Covid is now presenting as cold-like symptoms.
Data from the app states that people who test positive now most commonly report a headache, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing.
But what are the three symptoms that have been mostly associated with Omicron?
The doctor who first sounded the alarm about Omicron said she pushed for testing for a new strain, after young men that came to the clinic did not have the classic signs of Covid.
Dr Angelique Coetzee, a private practitioner and chair of the South African Medical Association, suggests the main symptoms of Omicron are:
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Headache
Dr Coetzee described one “very interesting case” of a six-year-old girl who had “a temperature and a very high pulse rate" – however this is just one anecdotal case.
The clinician, who is also on the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines, told Reuters that unlike the dominant Delta, so far patients have not reported loss of smell or taste.
It's important that if you think you have Covid-19 that you get a test and isolate – as this will prevent more people from catching the bug.
Experts globally are still trying to learn more about the bug, how transmissible it is and how effective vaccines could be.
Dr Harries urged people to wear a mask in line with government guidance, which includes in shops and on public transport.
She said: "It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focused contact tracing.
"That’s why it’s critical that anyone with Covid-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.”
The government has urged Brits to come forward for their booster vaccines in a bid to combat the variant.
It was last night revealed that Covid booster jabs will protect against Omicron.
New data vindicates the UK’s decision to offer Pfizer or Moderna as a third shot.
In a trial of seven boosters, the two mRNA jabs came out on top – triggering the biggest rise in Covid antibodies.
Volunteers experienced an up to 32 times spike in levels of the protective proteins.
Experts also observed patients given Pfizer or Modern experienced a sharp rise in T-cells, which also fight off the virus, by killing cells infected with Covid.
Lead researcher Professor Saul Faust, from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said the broad immune response means boosters will likely cope well with Omicron.
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