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As the Delta (Indian) variant becomes dominant in the UK, the researcher behind the ZOE COVID Symptom Study said the virus “acts differently now.”
ZOE co-founder Professor Tim Spector said “people don’t realize it and it didn’t show up in any government news,” meaning people might think they have. “a sort of seasonal cold” instead of COVID-19[female[feminine.
The app launched in 2020 with scientific analysis provided by King’s College London.
It is the world’s largest ongoing study of COVID-19 with more than four million global contributors recording information such as symptoms, tests and vaccines.
Are the symptoms of the Delta variant different?
Classic signs of coronavirus reported since the start of the pandemic have been loss of smell or taste, a new persistent cough and fever, but Prof Spector said data collected on the app since early May shows that they are less common now.
According to data collected by ZOE, a headache, sore throat and runny nose are now considered symptoms of the virus, instead of a cough and loss of smell or taste – although fever is still common.
Last week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the Delta variant now accounts for 91% of new cases amid a warning from Public Health England that infections are increasing “rapidly”.
So what are the most common symptoms of the Delta variant?
According to Professor Spector, a headache is now the most reported symptom, followed by sore throat, runny nose and fever.
A cough is even rarer, ranking as the fifth most reported symptom, and loss of taste or smell isn’t even in the top 10.
‘Big cold’
For the younger population, contract COVID-19[female[feminine looks more like a “bad cold” leading some to “always go out to parties and spread it to about six other people,” explained Professor Spector.
He went on to say that the data shows that the Delta variant is “actually much more transmissible than many experts thought”, with the latest estimates suggesting that it is about twice as transmissible as the original variant.
“We think that is really fueling the problem.
“It’s a very sticky virus and it sort of explains why it’s done so much damage in such a short period of time.”
A “feeling of stopping”
The teacher also noted that a “funny feeling” was a reason for staying home.
He said: “The message here is if you’re young and have milder symptoms anyway, it might just look like a bad cold or a funny feeling, but stay home and get tested. . “
Government website says people can get lateral flow test
• by collecting one from a test site
• pick one up in a pharmacy (in England only)
• or by visiting a site to take a test
Professor Spector said: “It is really important to reduce the transmission of this virus, especially among young people, by people acting in a reasonable way.
“So if you are not feeling well stay home for a few days until this passes.”
If people suspect they have COVID-19, they should self-isolate and take a test at a testing center or order a home test kit.
What about vaccines?
As of June 15, a total of 72,040,763 doses of vaccine had been administered in the UK, with 41,831,056 people having received their first vaccine and 30,209,707 the second.
Professor Spector said on June 9: “This is a current epidemic of young people and the unvaccinated – the main increase this week has been in the 20-29 age group and most cases are still among those under 40.
“There is still good protection against double vaccination, we don’t see as much protection as at the start of the year with just one vaccination.”
He urged people to get the shot and not delay their second dose, saying it’s “a reason not to be complacent if you just got that first injection.”
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