The UK appears to have just seen off its fifth wave of Covid-19 infections, although experts continue to fear that another could arrive this autumn once the weather turns unless proper precautions are taken. The Independent reports the country saw a 43% spike in coronavirus cases at the beginning of June, seemingly caused by people coming together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron, the strain that spread so rapidly across the UK in December 2021 and January 2022 before gradually falling away, cases continued to rise to a peak of around 4.6m cases in mid-July before gradually beginning to decline. While August finds Britain in a much better place in terms of infections, the recent spike was a timely reminder that Covid has not gone away.
Most common symptoms for the fully vaccinated
Researchers in Norway conducted a study interviewing 111 out of 117 guests to a party on November 26, 2021, where there was an Omicron outbreak. According to the findings published in the infectious disease and epidemiology journal Eurosurveillance, there were eight key symptoms experienced by the group of fully-vaccinated partygoers.
These were: a persistent cough, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fever and sneezing. The study found that coughs, runny noses and fatigue were among the most common symptoms in the vaccinated individuals while sneezing and fever were least common.
Public health experts also added nausea to this list of symptoms in vaccinated people who have contracted the Omicron variant. Although the vaccine protects against the more serious risks of the virus, it is still possible to contract Covid even if you have both jabs and a booster shot.
Two early warning signs you may have Omicron
Experts also suggest there are two distinct symptoms that could be a sign a positive test is around the corner: fatigue and spells of dizziness or fainting. More than simply feeling tired, fatigue can translate to bodily pain by causing sore or weak muscles, headaches and even blurry vision and loss of appetite.
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