How to tell the difference between Covid and a cold

COVID symptoms have changed – with many now people confusing the virus with a cold.

Brits are currently reporting a headache and cough as their main symptoms.

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These could easily be chalked up to a common cold, especially as other winter viruses start to make a return.

It’s important to recognize that you may be spreading Covid. The symptoms have become more severe since the outbreak and are now more common.

Get a test if you feel unwell or have new symptoms that may indicate the presence of the virus.

The most common symptoms of Covid now, according to the latest Office for National Statistics data, are a cough, fatigue and a headache.

Other symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea and fever.

The NHS has not yet listed the three original symptoms, namely a cough and fever along with loss of taste or smell.

After an expert pointed out that a Covid sore may be different than a regular sore.

It is among the most commonly reported symptoms by both vaccinated individuals and those who have not been vaccinated.

Tim Spector, leading researcher on the study, presented aYouTubevideo where he asked viewers to report how their throat feels – with many saying it felt dry, rather than sore, as well as “scratchy” or “itchy”.

The fact that you have been vaccinated makes the symptoms of virus more similar to a cold. It is worth knowing this.

Double jabbing doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get Covid. The goal is to prevent the infection from becoming serious.

A person with a positive test is more likely than someone who has a weaker test to have symptoms like a cough, loss of taste, or smell.

Sarah Crofts, Head of Analytical Outputs for the COVID-19 Infection Survey, said: “When the Delta variant became dominant in the early summer and infection levels rose, more people reported symptoms. This has dropped to less than half of the people who tested positive in recent years.

“As we transition into the autumn and winter it’s important we continue to track the symptoms people experience so that we can identify changes. This is not possible without the valuable contributions of our participants.”

A sore throat can be caused by lots of respiratory illnesses, like a seasonal cold, and therefore may not be caused by Covid.

It is worth visiting a doctor if a sore throat persists for more than five consecutive days.

To determine if a sore neck is due to Covid or a common illness, you can look at the symptoms. Or, just get a PCR testing to make sure.

In vaccinated people – the majority of the UK population – the top symptom people with Covid have reported is a runny nose (77 per cent).

The headache is followed by sneezing (67%), sore throat (52%), and loss of sense (52%).