Covid is still circulating and the recent surge in cases has led to suggestions the UK is in the middle of a fourth wave.
The current strain, Omicron, has been proven to be milder than previous mutations Delta and Alpha - but it is still considered highly transmissible.
Millions have already contracted the bug since it first arrived in these shores in early 2020, while many are protected from severe risk by vaccines.
It has meant symptoms of the virus - unlike a year ago - are now often similar to those of the common cold or flu.
And with the winter fast approaching, respiratory illnesses will be more prevalent meaning it could prove harder to tell between them.
Added to that, lateral flow tests are no longer free.
1.7million Brits currently have Covid, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures from ZOE also predict there are around 235,829 new daily symptomatic cases in the UK.
Omicron
The only sure way to know if you've got Covid is to take a test.
Experts agree that virus patients will usually be infectious for longer.
Data from the ZOE app shows people with the virus are displaying a variation of 20 specific symptoms.
- Sore throat - 63.55%
- Runny nose - 53.04%
- Headache - 53.02%
- Blocked nose - 52.47%
- Cough no phlegm - 52.06%
- Sneezing - 47.02%
- Cough with phlegm - 45.79%
- Hoarse voice - 43.86%
- Muscle pain aches - 29.46%
- Fatigue - 22.97%
- Dizzy light headed - 21.11%
- Altered smell - 19.82%
- Swollen neck glands - 17.72%
- Eye soreness - 16.41%
- Chest pain tightness - 16.26%
- Shortness of breath - 15.9%
- Loss of smell - 14.45%
- Earache - 13.96%
- Chills or shivers - 12.98%
- Joint pain shoulders - 11.08%
Cold
Colds caused by Rhinovirus - the predominant cause of the common cold - are currently around five times more common than Covid, says ZOE co-founder Tim Spector.
He added: "With the increase in colds and rhinovirus, as well as Covid-19, and the likelihood of a major seasonal flu epidemic," he said.
The most common symptoms of common colds are:
- runny nose
- sneezing
- body aches
- cough
- headache
Flu
The usual difference between the flu and a cold or Omicron is difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite and sickness.
Sufferers will often have a temperature of 38C or more, as well as body aches and a dry cough.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): "People with flu virus infection are potentially contagious for about one day before they show symptoms.
"However, it is believed that flu is spread mainly by people who are symptomatic with flu virus infection.
"Older children and adults with flu appear to be most contagious during the first 3-4 days of their illness, but some people might remain contagious for slightly longer periods.
"Infants and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for even longer."
