he number one symptom of Covid a sore throat with a headache is the second most common, according to a new study.
A high temperature or fever and loss of smell or taste were much less common, despite the NHS highly listing them as likely Covid symptoms†
The data was collected from 17,500 people who said they tested positive for the virus this week.
A stuffy nose and cough were the next most common symptoms after a sore throat and headache.
Sneezing, fatigue, muscle aches and dizziness have also risen on the list of symptoms.
The top 10 Covid symptoms according to the data from the Zoe App study are:
- Sore throat – reported by 58%
- Headache – 49%
- Stuffy nose – 40%
- Cough no phlegm – 40%
- Runny nose – 40%
- Cough with phlegm – 37%
- Hoarse voice – 35%
- Sneezing – 32%
- Fatigue – 27%
- Muscle aches/pain – 25%
Separately, the React-1 study sent 150,000 randomly selected people across England every month for smears to do at home.
It revealed that Covid symptoms have changed as new strains have emerged during the pandemic.
A number of Covid variants have emerged, including the highly contagious Omicron in recent months.
Loss of sense of smell and taste seems to be less common in the Omicron variant, React-1 researchers from Imperial College London found.
When people contract Omicron, they report more cold and flu-like symptoms.
The study closely examined Omicron — known as BA.1 and BA.2 — which emerged in March 2022.
Professor Tim Spector, who leads the Zoe Health Study, said: “Covid is still prevalent among the population. Even if people have had an infection in the past and fully vaccinatedpeople still catch it.
“While we all want to make the most of the good weather, people will have to decide for themselves whether it’s worth the risk to go to major events, work in the office or use the busy public transport system.”
Earlier this week total Covid deaths increased to over 200,000.