Doctor shares 12 Covid symptoms he's seeing as new variant spreads in UK

A doctor has shared eight Covid symptoms people should look out for as a new strain spreads in the UK. Dr Roger Henderson, a GP and spokesperson for Olbas, said the XFG variant appeared to cause symptoms "very similar to a bad cold or flu".

He added: "The main things to watch out for are a sore throat (this may be very painful), a hoarse voice, a cough, a runny or blocked nose, tiredness, aches, fever, and sometimes a stomach upset. Because these symptoms overlap with the usual ones seen with colds and flu, it can be hard to know the cause without Covid testing. Warning signs that it may be more serious include struggling to breathe, chest pain, confusion, or not being able to eat or drink properly. If those occur, seek medical help."

Dr Henderson said people with Covid can spread the illness for longer than those with a cold or flu, sometimes before they even feel unwell.

This allows the virus to move quickly through households and communities, he explained.

Asked whether Covid tests can detect the new strain, he said: "At-home Covid tests (the swab kits you buy in shops or pharmacies) do still pick up this new strain, but one negative test doesn't always mean you're in the clear, especially if you've only just started to feel ill.

"If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, it's safest to stay home and test again after a day or two, rather than assuming it's 'just a cold'."

Dr Henderson said common symptoms of Covid can be treated at home, but you should know when to seek professional help.

He explained: "At home you can safely treat a fever with paracetamol or ibuprofen, a sore throat with lozenges or warm drinks, blocked nose with saline spray or decongestants, and a cough with syrups if needed.

"Get medical help if you're struggling to breathe, you can't keep fluids down, you feel very weak or confused, symptoms suddenly get worse after a few days, you're pregnant, elderly, very young, or have a long-term illness and you're getting worse."