NINE new symptoms of Covid have been added to the official NHS list – as the number of people with the virus reaches record highs.
More than two years into the pandemic, the list of possible signs that someone might have the illness has been quietly extended.
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Previously, Brits were warned a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to the senses of smell and taste may be Covid.
However, more possible tell-tale signs now feature.
As well as the three previously listed, potential symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
The NHS website says: “The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.”
It comes after milder variant Omicron swept the UK – with millions of those infected reporting different symptoms to the first strains.
According to the ZOE Covid tracker app, people suffering the mutation could be experiencing ringing ears, unusual joint pains and brain fog.
Previously, anyone who exhibited any symptom was urged to get a test as soon as possible.
However, the Government now encourages anyone who believes they may be infected to stay at home and avoid others.
Free lateral flow tests ended this week. Anyone wanting to know if they are infected can instead now buy a kit from around £1 for a single, or £10 for a pack of five from pharmacies.
On Friday, scientists revealed that a record 4.9million people had Covid last week across the UK.
In England, one in 13 were infected with the bug, and Scotland reported one in 12 hit with the virus.
But the vaccine has severed the link between cases and severe illness.
It means the bug can be treated like any other respiratory illness, ministers say.
The rise in infections is largely due to BA.2, Omicron’s subvariant, which is much better at getting around immunity and spreads faster.
Crucially, however, it has not caused a substantial increase in patients in hospital.
For the most part, people will recover after a few days at home feeling unwell. Some won’t even have symptoms at all.