Two symptoms that signal you could have Covid instead of a cold

IF you’re experiencing typical cold-like symptoms it’s likely you have coronavirus, a leading professor has warned. 

There are currently twice as many people in the UK with the bug than with a cold – so the chances your tickly throat is Covid is higher than ever.

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Professor Tim Spector, founder of the Covid Zoe Symptom Tracker App, has warned that feeling tired and having a sore throat might be signs of the illness.

“Symptoms [for Covid and a cold] are much the same except with Covid you are generally more fatigue and have sore throat – so best to assume it’s Covid,” he explained. 

“There are twice as many Covid cases as common colds – the ratio has never been so high,” he said. 

“Hopefully this wave will be over soon,” he added.

Experts at the app revealed that 58 per cent of people with coronavirus experience a sore throat, while 47 per cent have a headache. 

The most recent data shows that around 43 per cent of people will suffer a cough, 41 per cent blocked nose and 39 per cent a runny nose.

Infections are finally falling in the UK, dropping by more than half a million in a week, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.

An estimated 3.2 million people had the virus in the week leading up to 20 July, compared to 3.8 million the week before.

However, medics have warned that there is still a lot of it around. 

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “We are now seeing decreases in Covid-19 case rates and hospitalisations.

“Whilst this is encouraging, Covid-19 has not gone away and we really want to see further declines in the coming weeks and months. 

“People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations.”

She added: “We urge anyone who is not up to date with their jabs to come forward to give themselves the best possible protection.”

This week it was also revealed that Brits are actually battling three types of long Covid.

It’s estimated that around two million people in the UK are currently living with the condition. 

They are dealing with a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from sexual dysfunction to hallucinations and even hair loss.

Experts from King’s College London (KCL) have now discovered that people tend to fall into one of three separate groups.

This included neurological symptoms, respiratory symptoms and a wider group which is made up of  heart palpitations, muscle aches and pains, and changes in their skin and hair.  

Last week, researchers suggested there may be an additional 48 lesser-known side effects which long Covid patients can experience.

Meanwhile, studies have shown that one in 20 people who catch Covid may permanently lose their sense of smell or taste.