A sore throat could be the main symptom that suggests someone has developed COVID-19, according to new data.
After a sore throat, the next most common symptoms are a headache and a stuffy nose, according to the Zoe Covid study.
At the onset of the pandemic, symptoms such as fever or loss of smell were considered among the most characteristic signs of the virus.
But they are now among the least reported symptoms.
The study also mentions cough, hoarse voice, sneezing, fatigue and muscle aches as common symptoms.
Professor Tim Spector, Zoe’s scientific co-founder and chief scientist of Zoe’s health study, said the virus “is still rampant” in the population.
He said, “So much so that if you have a cold-like symptom right now, it’s almost twice as likely to be COVID as a cold.”
Because several variants of COVID coexist, such as Omicron variants BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5, even people with past or totally attacked infections can infect it, Professor Spector said.
However, he added, “we are already seeing a slight drop in the day-to-day figures.”
Virus becomes “too smart”
COVID-19-related deaths have exceeded 200,000 in the UK, according to the National Statistics Office (ONS).
Dr David Nabarro, WHO’s special envoy on the virus, said it was constantly evolving and becoming “too smart”.
Dr. Nabarro told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “This virus is constantly evolving and changing.
“The reason we have an increase is that it has changed again and has become too smart for us.
“It can overwhelm our immune defenses, and that’s why the numbers are rising.”
The 20 symptoms of Covid reported last week by 17,500 people who tested positive were:
• Sore throat – 58% • Headache – 49% • Clogged nose – 40% • Cough without phlegm – 40% • Nasal discharge – 40% • Cough with phlegm – 37% • Hoarse voice – 35% • Sneezing – 32 % • Fatigue – 27% • Muscle aches / pains – 25% • Dizziness dizziness – 18% • Swollen neck glands – 15% • Eye pain – 14% • Altered sense of smell – 13% • Chest tightness – 13% • Fever – 13% • Chills or chills – 12% • Shortness of breath – 11% • Earache – 11% • Loss of smell – 10%