Following the rise of the omicron variant, new research has shown that the most common symptoms of Covid-19 are no longer a fever and cough.
The latest strain of the virus is significantly more transmissible than the previously dominant alpha and delta, but reportedly leads to less severe illness.
It also causes different symptoms, which is why the most common signs of covid have now changed as it continues to spread through the population.
READ MORE - Jet2 demand in Scotland surges following easing of travel restrictions
Since the pandemic began, the public have been told that the most frequent signs of the virus are a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
However, as reported by The Mirror, the omicron variant causes symptoms that are much more akin to a common cold - including a runny nose, scratchy throat, and sore head.
According to the ZOE Covid study, 51.3% of people experiencing new cold-like symptoms are likely to have symptomatic Covid.
It comes amid news that around 1.3 million people in the UK - one in 50 - are likely to be suffering from long covid, the highest number since estimates began.
This includes more than half a million people who first had Covid-19, or suspected they had the virus, at least one year ago.
The figures, from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), are based on self-reported long covid from a representative sample of people in private households.
Responses were collected in the four weeks to December 6 last year - before the recent surge in coronavirus infections driven by the Omicron variant.
The estimate of 1.3 million people with long covid is up from 1.2 million at the end of October and 945,000 at the start of July.
Of the 1.3 million, 892,000 people (70%) first had - or suspected they had - Covid-19 at least 12 weeks previously, while 506,000 (40%) first had the virus at least a year earlier.
Dr Claire Steves, scientist on the ZOE COVID Study app and Reader at King’s College London said: “It’s good news that the number of daily new cases has slowed for now.
"ZOE COVID Study data shows that this slow down is being driven by cases falling in London and in younger age groups. However, it’s worrying to see cases increasing in the over 75 age group.
"This is the group we need to protect as they are the most likely to be hospitalised as a result of a COVID infection. It’s too early to know if cases have truly peaked in London, as schools are yet to reopen after the holidays.
"We've seen school terms driving infection waves throughout the pandemic. The health and care systems are already under huge pressure, so we all need to take personal responsibility for limiting the spread of COVID.
"This could be in the form of regular testing, wearing masks, staying away from busy crowded places, meeting up outside and getting booster vaccines.”
