Scientists are warning of new symptoms that appeared to be linked to the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The most recent and highly transmissible strain of the virus now accounts for the majority of coronavirus cases in the UK with 39,923 people testing positive yesterday.
According to the ZOE app, which records symptoms from the public, states that a skin rash has now been labelled as a "key" sign of Omicron, as the Daily Star reports.
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But it's not just one type of rash that pops up with Omicron infections but two.
The first and most common type is a hive-like rash which appears on the skin as raised bumps and can be very itchy - it's also thought to start on the palms or soles of feet.
Meanwhile, the second rash is a prickly heat-type rash that appears all over the body but is more common on elbows, knees and the back of hands and feet.
While cases increase on a week-on-week basis, Professor Tim Spector, the man behind the ZOE study, has warned that the new figures paint a "worrying picture".
He said: “The number of new symptomatic cases has exploded over the last week, making it the biggest jump in cases I’ve seen since we started the ZOE COVID Study.
“While the figures paint a worrying picture, the good news is that our preliminary data, based on around 2,500 probable cases reported on the ZOE app suggests that Omicron is milder than Delta.
“However, this highly transmissible variant will infect many more people before the year is out.
“To help us slow the spread, my advice continues to be; avoid gathering indoors, and, if you are meeting up with people, check everyone is free of cold symptoms, test yourself just before and get fully vaccinated.
“We need to change public messaging urgently to save lives as half of people with cold-like symptoms now have COVID.”
It comes as the government urges everyone to "get boosted" to help curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson still refuses to impose new restrictions in England in the run-up to the new year.
