It can be hard to tell the difference between Covid-19 and the common cold without a test.<br />The typical symptoms of the common cold like headache, runny nose and sore throat, are also some of the primary indicators of Covid.<br />On December 23, researchers behind the ZOE Covid Study warned that anyone with a runny nose, headache or sore throat was likely to have the Omicron variant.<br />"For most people, an Omicron positive case will feel much more like the common cold, starting with a sore throat, runny nose and a headache. You only need to ask a friend who has recently tested positive to find this out. We need to change public messaging urgently to save lives." Professor Tim Spector, founder ZOE app, via BBC.<br />According to the ZOE Covid Study, headaches are one of the earliest signs of Covid and are more common than cough, fever and loss of smell.<br />The ZOE study also found that nearly 60% of people with Covid reported a runny nose, making it the second most common symptom.<br />However, the study warns that it is hard to call a runny nose a definitive sign of Covid as it is so common, particularly during winter.<br />According to ZOE, about half of people with Covid report a sore throat.<br />Loss of smell continues to be the most common indicator of Covid, regardless of age, sex or severity of the infection.<br />The ZOE study found that while a persistent cough is one of the 3 main symptoms of Covid, only around 4 out of 10 people with Covid experience it.<br />'The Independent' recommends that anyone with these symptoms should self-isolate and get a Covid test as soon as possible.
