A virus expert has explained how you might be able to tell the difference between a common cold and the Omicron variant of Covid-19, as cases continue to rise.
Earlier this month, Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London and co-founder of the Zoe app that tracks Covid symptoms, said people were logging cold-like symptoms rather than the traditional cough, high temperature and loss of taste or smell associated with previous variants.
Now virologist and Professor of Molecular Oncology Lawrence Young has explained that while there is some ‘overlap’ in symptoms between colds and Omicron, generally people with the latter will experience symptoms more ‘rapidly’.
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Speaking to The Sun, he said: "There does seem to be an overlap with cold symptoms and there is an estimation from data from ZOE that a quarter of people who have colds actually have Covid.
"They do overlap but it seems that the onset of a cold is a bit more gradual. But with Omicron people get headaches and fatigue rapidly if they have Covid, whereas a cold develops over a few days."
Young said, if in doubt, people should do a lateral flow test before they go out – and should test their children if they’re displaying symptoms of a cold, too.
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Doctors have also warned of symptoms specific to the Omicron variant that we should ‘keep on top of’.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, Dr Amir Khan explained how doctors in South Africa – where the first Omicron variant was first identified – have found patients infected with the strain of the virus have been experiencing night sweats as they sleep.
He said: “The symptoms that are coming out of South Africa by the doctors that are looking after patients with Omicron show these five new symptoms.
“A scratchy throat, mild muscle aches, extreme tiredness, a dry cough and night sweats. Those kind of drenching night sweats where you might have to get up and change your clothes.
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“And this is important. It’s important we keep on top of these symptoms, because if we’re going to keep track of Omicron here and worldwide we need to be able to test people with these symptoms.”
Another doctor has also agreed that there are ‘more specific’ symptoms that come with the Omicron variant.
Speaking to the Express, Dr Gary Bartlett said: "Symptoms of Omicron may initially seem more mild compared to infection from the Delta variant.
"The Omicron variant of Covid-19 may very well cause the well-known usual symptoms, such as stuffy runny nose, fever, persistent cough (cough for more than half a day) sore head and throat, and loss of sense of taste and smell.
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"Symptoms which may be more specific to Omicron include a scratchy throat as opposed to a sore throat, a dry persistent cough, extreme tiredness and fatigue, muscle aches and pains, and night sweats.”
The GP added: "These may be the first and only symptoms of the Omicron variant. It can be difficult to distinguish between Covid-19 and the common cold without PCR testing."
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Coronavirus