The NHS has added nine new official Covid symptoms, just as free lateral flow tests are axed.
The list of official symptoms is believed to have been quietly extended on Friday afternoon, over two years into the pandemic.
Before, only three official Covid symptoms were listed.
These were a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to the sense of smell or taste.
These were all introduced earlier on in the pandemic and have been kept ever since.
However, now, the list has been suddenly updated to reflect new variants of the killer virus.
Now, a whopping nine extra symptoms have been added to the official NHS list.
The new list of symptoms includes the three previously listed, and adds:
- 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 list is a significant departure from the previous one and vastly expands on the previous warnings.
It comes after months of reports that the new variants of Covid were causing different reactions in people and leaving them with different symptoms.
After listing the symptoms, the NHS website highlights: “The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.”
Previously, when people exhibited any of the symptoms, “even if mild”, you were advised to get tested as soon as possible.
However, now under new government guidance, you are simply advised to stay home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms as well as a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities.
This means, under the new guidance, if you have the symptoms but feel well enough to go to work the Government advises you do so.
