The most common symptoms of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been outlined in a new report.
Almost 1,900 cases of the new variant have now been recorded across the UK.
And a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a cough as the most common symptom.
READ MORE : Concern growing as almost 100 suspected Omicron cases discovered in Greater Manchester
The US public health body found a cough was the 'initial' symptom in 89 per cent of cases of Omicron which it investigated, Wales Online reports.
The next most common symptoms were fatigue, and congestion or a runny nose.
In the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 43 confirmed cases were investigated as part of a study to better understand Omicron, which was classified as a 'variant of concern' by the World Health Organisation last month.
Only seven per cent of those in the study tested positive after ‘asymptomatic’ infection or ‘unknown’ symptoms, while 93 per cent of cases were classed symptomatic.
Less common symptoms also included a fever, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, diarrhoea and loss of taste or smell.
This strain is said to spread far faster than previous variants, but so far few hospitalisations have been reported.
"Many of the first reported cases of Omicron variant infection appear to be mild, although as with all variants, a lag exists between infection and more severe outcomes," the CDC report said.
"Symptoms would be expected to be milder in vaccinated persons and those with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection than in unvaccinated persons.
"Characteristics of the cases described in this report might also not be generalisable because case findings might be associated with individual characteristics.
"Even if most infections are mild, a highly transmissible variant could result in enough cases to overwhelm health systems."
The latest figures show an additional 633 cases of Omicron have been recorded in the UK, bringing the total to 1,898.
Eleanor Riley, a professor of immunology and infectious disease, said Omicron is spreading so fast that people are 'very likely' to meet someone infected with the new variant unless they are 'living the life of a hermit'.
"I don’t think anyone should be going around thinking they are not going to catch it, I think that situation has changed," she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
