Delta variant ‘is a different kind of beast’ says Walensky
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Covid cases have started to drop off in the UK, despite all legal restrictions on social distancing being lifted earlier this month. But, it’s still vital that everyone is aware of the most common coronavirus symptoms.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the UK topped 60,000 on July 15, sparking fears that the pandemic might spiral out of control – again.
But, despite nightclubs re-opening and no legal limits on attendance at large events, cases have continued to fall.
There have been fewer than 30,000 new cases reported each day for the past 10 days in the UK.
However, in order to keep life moving, there’s still a responsibility to self-isolate if you develop any of the key signs of coronavirus.
The Delta variant, which was first identified in India, is now by far the most dominant strain of coronavirus in the UK.
But some of the most commonly reported symptoms appear to be different now, compared with the start of the pandemic.
There are two major differences to be aware of, warned Griffith University’s Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Lara Herrero.
She used data from the Covid Symptom Study App to reveal that a runny nose is becoming increasingly popular among Covid patients, while a loss of smell is slowly becoming less common.
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“As the virus has evolved, it seems the most common symptoms have changed too,” Herrero wrote for The Conversation.
“Emerging data suggest people infected with the Delta variant are experiencing symptoms different to those we commonly associated with Covid earlier in the pandemic.
“While fever and cough have always been common Covid symptoms, and headache and sore throat have traditionally presented for some people, a runny nose was rarely reported in earlier data.
“Meanwhile, loss of smell, which was originally quite common, now ranks ninth [most common symptom].”
It’s not entirely clear why the symptoms appear to be changing, she added.
It could be because the virus is evolving and developing different characteristics.
But, the data is still crucial as easily-dismissed symptoms of a winter cold or flu could actually be caused by Covid.
If you’re ever concerned that you might be at risk of Covid, it’s always worth taking a lateral flow Covid test.
Almost 40 million people in the UK have now received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Everyone over the age of 18 is now eligible for a Covid jab.
In total, 88 percent of the UK public have been given at least one dose of the vaccine.
If you develop a new cough, a high fever, or a loss of smell or taste, you should book a Covid test as soon as possible.
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