An epidemiologist has revealed the top symptom of Covid, which more than two thirds of infected people are currently showing.
It comes as the latest figures suggest Coronavirus infections are rising in most parts of the UK, but are still well below levels reached earlier this year. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday (December 16) showed that the total number of people in private households in the UK testing positive for coronavirus stood at an estimated 1.3 million in the week to December 5.
This is up 16 percent from 1.1 million in the previous week. The jump in infections is likely to be driven by people mixing more indoors, health experts said, and comes as other winter viruses such as flu are circulating more widely.
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Tim Spector, co-found of the ZOE Health Study, said that the virus's R value - the average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected person - is 1.1. This means around one in 27 people in the UK still have Covid.
The ZOE COVID Study is the world’s largest ongoing study of the virus and gives scientific insight into symptoms, vaccines, immunity and new variants. Mr Spector said that the top 20 Covid symptoms hadn't changed that much, according to the Study's latest data.
He also revealed the top symptom, which 64 percent of infected people are presenting with, in a recent video update. He explained: "Maybe because the Omicron variant B.A5 5 is still the commonest one. There are others around but they haven't taken over from it."
He continued: "A sore throat is still the commonest symptom of Covid at the moment - 64 percent of cases. This is interesting because there are all kinds of other causes of sore throat at the moment; these cold viruses and strep throat, all of them which are commoner than Covid."
The other top symptoms of Coronavirus, according to the ZOE Study, are a runny nose, a blocked nose, a headache and sneezing. Mr Spector pointed out that having a high temperature or fever is still not in the top 20 symptoms of Coronavirus, which differentiates it from the flu.
Despite Covid cases rising, it is no longer the main driver of sickness and hospitalisations this winter, as it was in 2020 and 2021. Instead, other viruses are becoming more prevalent.
Flu is now “circulating widely” across the country, with a sharp increase in hospital cases last week, particularly among the over-85s and children under five, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). In England, the rate of hospital admissions for flu has overtaken those for people with Covid-19 for the first time since the pandemic began, and is now running at a higher level than in any week since the 2017/18 season.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist for immunisation, said: “We’re seeing rises in flu, Covid and other winter viruses as people mix more indoors. Covid hospitalisations are highest in the oldest age groups, so it is particularly important that everyone who is eligible continues to come forward to accept their booster jab.
“While Covid-19 and flu can be mild infections for many, we must not forget that they can cause severe illness or even death for those most vulnerable in our communities.”
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