The NHS has updated its official list of covid-19 symptoms for the first time in two years. The list had, until now, contained just three symptoms, but it now contains 12 symptoms in total.
Health authorities elsewhere, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have listed other symptoms for a while now. The NHS has finally followed suit, meaning there are more signs to look out for than before.
The move does, however, coincide with the end of free testing for most people, meaning British residents will be forced to pay for tests. Private tests are also not always entered into the same databases as NHS tests, meaning health officials will be less able to track the spread of the disease.
Read more: When does national insurance rise and what does it mean for me?
NHS official covid symptoms
Newly added symptoms are listed in bold.
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- 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 says the symptoms of covid are "very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu".
What should I do if I have covid symptoms?
The legal requirement to self-isolate has now ended. The official advice is to "try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people".
The health service's official advice continues: "Take extra care to avoid close contact with anyone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from covid-19. You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature."
You can purchase a test from pharmacies and other retailers. Some people, such as NHS staff and the extremely vulnerable, can still obtain free tests via the NHS.
