Omicron: Professor outlines symptoms of new covid variant
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Britons “need to be on the lookout” for warning signs of infection from the Covid variant. Akin to past mutations, Omicron has replaced the top traditional symptoms of disease. Appearing live on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, December 16, Professor Spector said: “Over 50 percent of people never have classic symptoms.” Instead, the main symptoms to look out for include:
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Sneezing
- Runny nose.
“Predominant symptoms are all cold-like symptoms,” the professor continued, adding that loss of smell or taste, fever, and cough “don’t feature in that top five anymore”.
Three of the classic symptoms, still noted on the NHS website, are:
- A high temperature
- A new, continuous cough
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
For millions of people who have been vaccinated, or have received a Covid booster jab, they are likely to encounter “mild disease” if they catch coronavirus.
“Most cases look exactly like a cold,” Professor Spector continued. He added: “Data suggests colds are out there; one in four or five of any cold symptoms being Covid.”
Also appearing on ITV this morning was Dr Hilary, who said: “The war is still on with this virus.”
In a segment on Lorraine, Dr Hilary described the “rampant virus” to be “spreading like wildfire”.
When asked about the possibility of another lockdown, the doctor disclosed that the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) are calling for a circuit breaker.
However, with economic factors playing a part in the decision making, another lockdown is currently not on the horizon.
“Nobody wants a lockdown,” Dr Hilary said. “People are anxious, depressed, tired, and stressed.”
The doctor added: “Most people are demonstrating they are being sensible. We have to be cautious.”
Anybody experiencing cold-like symptoms should order a PCR test from the NHS website.
While awaiting your results, you will need to self-isolate to help control the spread of the virus.
Cases of Omicron are surging across the UK, now overtaking Delta as the dominant strain in London.
Within the next couple of days, it is predicted that Omicron will be the dominant strain in the East of England, South East and North West.
Doctor Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said the strain “is probably the most significant threat since the start of the pandemic”.
She continued: “The real potential risk here – and I would underline that because we are still learning a lot about the variant – is in relation to its severity, clinical severity, and therefore whether those cases turn into severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths.”
Current Government reports show that the number of people testing positive is skyrocketing.
In the past seven days, there has been a rapid incline of nearly 20 percent.
Tragically, these numbers are now starting to increase the number of patients admitted to hospital.
To help protect yourself, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging adults over the age of 18 to get their booster jabs.
Source: Read Full Article