The 5 Omicron symptoms that mean you need urgent medical help

MOST people who catch the Omicron variant will suffer with cold-like symptoms, but for the minority it can be more serious.

Viruses can affect people differently and people who are most at risk are those with underlying health conditions and the unvaccinated.

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The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US has outlined five symptoms of coronavirus that may mean you need urgent medical help.

People who catch Omicron are much less likely to experience severe illness from the virus, studies have shown.

A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other Covid strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits’ arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.

But if you’re unvaccinated, elderly or your immune system is compromised then you are more at risk of developing serious Covid-19.

The CDC says you must seek medical attention if you experience any of the below symptoms:

1. Trouble breathing
2. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
3. New confusion
4. Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
5. Inability to wake up (struggling to get up) or stay awake

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But the experts say that this list is not definitive and you should seek medical attention if there are any other symptoms that are concerning you.

Most people who contract Covid will be able to treat themselves at home.

If you have Covid you need to isolate from others to avoid the virus spreading.

The NHS still lists a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a lack of taste and smell as the key signs.

But people coming down with Omicron say they are mostly suffering with symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose and sneezing.

Professor Tim Spector of King’s College London and head of the ZOE Symptom Tracker app said that if you’ve got cold-like symptoms you are more likely to have Covid.

Prof Spector explained: “Over 50 per cent of people with a cold-like symptom have PCR proven Covid.”

The NHS said you should call 111 or seek medical attention if you’re gradually feeling more unwell or more breathless.

This could mean that you need an aide to help you breath such as more oxygen.

The NHS also states that you should seek medical attention if you have difficulty breathing when you stand up or move around and if you feel very weak, achy or tired.

It states that if you still feel unwell four weeks after first contracting Covid then you might be suffering with long Covid.

This is a set of illnesses and conditions which are triggered by the virus and are long lasting.

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