COVID-19: Classic coronavirus symptoms ‘change’ as expert urges government to update list | UK News

A leading researcher into the symptoms of COVID-19 has called on the government to update the list of “classic” symptoms of the virus.

Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of ZOE COVID symptom study, said recent data showed that headaches, runny nose, sore throat and sneezing were now the most common signs of coronavirus.

The study records the symptoms of people who received a positive PCR test.

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It is the world’s largest ongoing study of the virus with more than four million people worldwide recording information on symptoms, tests and vaccines.

Professor Spector said a headache was at the top of the list of the most common symptoms, with 60% of people testing positive experiencing one.

He said a runny nose and sore throat “was also moving up that list” and sneezing was now at number four, although it is often mistaken for hay fever.

A persistent cough was the only original “classic” symptom to make it into the top five, with fever at seven and loss of smell and taste at number nine.

“It is high time the government, after a year and a half, changed the list of classic symptoms,” he said.

“We need a much broader flexible approach as the virus changes and populations change.”

In his June 16 update, Professor Spector also warned that the current wave of coronavirus infections “is expected to peak around 10 to 14 days.”

He said: “We are still seeing an increase in rates, around 15,000 cases per day is our estimate based on your reports, but the good news is that it is not increasing as fast as it used to be.

“I predicted it should peak in 10-14 days and then start to go down, so within four weeks we’re well below current level and something much more manageable.

“It’s if all is well,” he added.

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