A health expert has shared the most common Covid symptom as more than two thirds of the British population are suffering from the virus.
Tim Spector, co-founder of the ZOE health study that tracks how the public is experiencing the virus, has said that the current most common symptom is a sore throat - one which is also seen in colds and flu.
He revealed the top symptom, which 64 per cent of infected people are presenting with, in a recent video update.
Prof Spector 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."
"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."
He also explained 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.
The other top symptoms of coronavirus, according to the ZOE Study, are a runny nose, a blocked nose, a headache and sneezing.
The epidemiologist 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.
Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show cases are jumping across most of the UK, but are lower than numbers seen earlier this year. Experts suggest the spike is likely due to more people mixing in the lead up to Christmas.
The data, which was released on Friday also found that an estimated 1.3 million people in UK households had tested positive for Covid by the week ending December 5 - a 16 per cent jump from 1.1 million the previous week, reports the Mirror.
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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