As the UK Government tightens restrictions amid the spread of the new Omicron variant, doctors are reporting different symptoms compared with other variants of covid.
But with many winter bugs also doing the rounds it can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold, the flu, the Delta variant of coronavirus, or this new strain.
Many people have already reported being hit by the "worst lurgy ever", with some having to take time off work and being poorly for weeks.
READ MORE: Omicron variant's unusual symptoms to look out for as they're different to Delta
It is therefore important to be able to tell the difference between the two coronavirus variants, a cold and the flu.
Anyone who shows any covid symptom should take a free PCR, which can be booked here.
Many symptoms overlap between colds, flu and coronavirus.
There are, however, some differences that can help identify your illness.
What are the symptoms of a cold?
According to the NHS, cold symptoms come on gradually and can include:
- a blocked or runny nose
- a sore throat
- headaches
- muscle aches
- coughs
- sneezing
- a raised temperature
- pressure in your ears and face
- loss of taste and smell
The symptoms are the same in adults and children, though symptoms sometimes last longer in children.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
The NHS says flu symptoms can include:
- a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
What are the main covid symptoms?
According to the NHS, the main coronavirus symptoms are:
- A high temperature
- A new, continuous cough
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should book a free PCR test.
Most of the above symptoms are the first that were officially recognised by the government and are still the accepted ones linked to the Delta variant, the Mirror reports.
The Omicron variant was first detected and sequenced in South Africa.
Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, who was one of the first people to suspect the Omicron Covid strain, has said she noticed patients at her private clinic showing symptoms that are different from the Delta variant.
Dr Coetzee told the AFP that she alerted health officials of a "clinical picture that doesn't fit Delta" on November 18, when seven patients showed different symptoms that seemed "very much related to normal viral infection".
She said her patients presented with extreme tiredness, mild muscle aches, scratchy throat and dry cough. Unlike the previous variants, this one doesn't cause loss of taste or smell, she added.
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