Doctors say a common symptom reported by people who are infected by the Omicron variant is a "scratchy" throat.
People who test positive most commonly report cold-like symptoms like a headache, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing, according to the ZOE Covid system study app.
While many colds and bugs produce these symptoms, the type of sore throat found in Omicron patients has specifically been described as "scratchy" by a number of people treated by South African doctor, Angelique Coetzee.
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A scratchy throat is seemingly more irritated, while a sore throat is more painful. Anecdotal accounts by South African researchers also described a “scratchy throat,” according to Reuters.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove told the Reuters news agency: "In terms of the severity profile, we have seen reports of cases with Omicron that go from mild disease all the way to severe disease.
"There is some indication that some of the patients are presenting with mild disease, but again it is early days."
No deaths have been reported so far from Omicron, though it is just over two weeks since the variant was first detected in the UK, and there is normally a time lag of three to four weeks between infection and death, should that happen.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now brought forward booster vaccination targets amid the battle against the new variant.
He has urged everyone who is eligible to "get boosted now".
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