A study of people with Covid symptoms has revealed the top three signs to currently watch out for as cases of the virus reach a new record high.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged governments around the world to bring back restrictions such as face masks, with WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warning that the pandemic is “nowhere near over”. New figures recently confirmed that more than 200,000 people in the UK have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate.
Data from the ZOE Covid Study, which collects information on symptoms that is then analysed by researchers at King’s College London, shows that there are currently almost 350,000 new daily cases across the UK. Omicron sub-variants BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 are behind the rise in cases, with fully vaccinated people still catching Covid due to the two strains being in circulation at the same time according to scientists behind the study, The Mirror reports .
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Another variant currently being tracked by the WHO is the BA.2.7.5, otherwise known as the Centaurus variant, which scientists believe has the ability to spread rapidly and infect even those who have received their vaccinations. The ZOE Study estimates that one in 15 people in the country currently has Covid.
Scientists behind the study have warned people to look out for a sore throat , blocked nose and dry cough as the three main symptoms of the current Covid wave. Professor Tim Spector, ZOE Scientific Co-Founder and lead scientist on the ZOE Health Study, said that those experiencing cold-like symptoms are currently almost twice as likely to have Covid as they are a cold.
"The good news is that case numbers won’t rise indefinitely and we’re already seeing a slight drop in numbers day to day,” Spector added. "Although we all want to make the most of the good weather, people will need to decide for themselves whether going to large events, working from the office or using busy public transport is worth the risk.”
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