Since being discovered in November, Omicron has quickly emerged as the dominant coronavirus variant across the globe.
That includes in Ireland, where it is estimated that two-thirds of new daily cases are as a result of the strain.
On Monday, a further 16,986 new cases were confirmed in Ireland and the seven-day average is at an all-time high after daily numbers topped 20,000 on several days over Christmas.
While a lot remains unknown about the latest strain of Covid, experts have found that symptoms of Omicron are quite different from the classic signs of coronavirus.
According to the latest HSE advice, the three main symptoms of Covid are:
- fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) - including having chills.
- dry cough.
- fatigue (tiredness)
It is widely accepted that a loss of taste or smell is also a sign of Covid.
The new variant show signs of being more similar to a common cold, with symptoms described as “mild” by some patients and doctors.
However, there are some lesser-known signs of Omicron appearing on the skin, lips and nails that patients should seek urgent medical attention for.
What are the Omicron symptoms on the skin, lips and nails?
The American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that people with Omicron report a wide range of symptoms besides the main three.
One such symptom of the virus occurs on the skin, lips and nails.
The CDC warned that we should watch out for pale, grey or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds , depending on our skin tone, as this can indicate low levels of oxygen in the blood.
The health body described these symptoms as “emergency warning signs” for which we should seek immediate medical care.
These emergency signs also include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, and the inability to wake or stay awake.
What are the most common Omicron symptoms?
According to a study from the ZOE symptom tracker app, the five most common symptoms of Omicron include:
Scratchy throat
Runny nose
Sneezing
Mild muscle aches
Fatigue
Other signs of the variant include congestion, brain fog, night sweats, skin rashes and even sore eyes in some patients.
