Expert’s Covid warning as new symptoms dismissed as common health problems

Dr Hilary discusses possible Covid wave

A professor has issued advice about the latest Covid symptoms to spot as cases continue to surge.

The latest government data showed a 29 percent rise in coronavirus cases on September 30, compared to the previous week.

There were also 16,030 new cases in England in the seven days leading up to this date.

As the virus continues to mutate, giving prominence to new variants, including Eris and Pirola, Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire, shared with Express.co.uk the symptoms that could ring alarm bells.

Previous tell-tale signs like loss or change in your sense of smell or taste seem to be less prevalent.

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However, the most common COVID-19 symptoms now seem to resemble seasonal allergies. Dr Papadopoulos said to “be vigilant” about the following signs:

• Sore throat
• High temperature
• Runny nose
• Blocked nose
• Sneezing
• Continuous cough (with or without phlegm)
• Persistent headache
• Muscle aches unrelated to exercise
• Fatigue. 

Furthermore, patients with coronavirus might also experience nausea and bouts of vomiting in some cases.

Because of the similarity between current Covid symptoms and other health issues, the professor highlighted the importance of testing.

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He said: “It’s important to note that these symptoms can overlap with those of seasonal allergies. 

“Therefore, if you’re questioning whether it’s just an allergy, getting tested becomes all the more crucial for an accurate diagnosis.”

Dr Papadopoulos explained that tests could also help reveal an infection before the first symptoms strike.

He added: “Additionally, it’s essential to remember that individuals can be infectious and highly contagious even before showing any symptoms. 

“In fact, this asymptomatic but infectious period is often when most transmissions occur.”

The professor’s advice comes as two new variants, known as Eris and Pirola, are spreading through the country.

According to the government data from September 24, Eris, or EG.5.1, currently holds dominance in the UK. On the other hand, Pirola, or BA.2.86, has caused only 54 cases in the UK so far, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports.

Both of these Omicron spin-offs have a higher number of mutations in their spike proteins.

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