Revealed: Most common signs you have a COVID infection

A sore throat might be the main symptom that suggests someone has developed COVID-19, according to new data.

The next most prevalent symptoms are headache and blocked nose, according to the Zoe COVID study.

At the start of the pandemic, symptoms such as a fever or loss of smell were considered among the most characteristic signs of the virus.

But now they are among the least reported symptoms.

The study also mentions cough, hoarse voice, sneezing, fatigue and muscle aches as common symptoms.

Professor Tim Spector, Zoe scientific co-founder and lead scientist on the Zoe Health Study, said the virus is “still rampant” in the population.

He said: “So much so that if you have any cold-like symptoms at the moment it’s nearly twice as likely to be COVID as a cold.”

Because there are various COVID variants co-existing, such as Omicron variants BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5, even people with a past infections or who are fully jabbed can catch it, Prof Spector said.

However, he added, “we’re already seeing a slight drop in numbers day to day”.

Virus becoming ‘too clever’

COVID-related deaths have exceeded 200,000 in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Dr David Nabarro, WHO’s special envoy on the virus, has said the it is constantly evolving and becoming “too clever”.

He told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “This virus is capable of constantly evolving and changing.

“The reason why we’ve got an increase is it’s changed yet again and it’s become too clever for us.

“It can break past our immune defences, and that’s why the numbers are going up.”

The 20 Covid symptoms reported in the last week by 17,500 people who tested positive were:

• Sore throat – 58%
• Headache – 49%
• Blocked nose – 40%
• Cough no phlegm – 40%
• Runny nose – 40%
• Cough with phlegm – 37%
• Hoarse voice – 35%
• Sneezing – 32%
• Fatigue – 27%
• Muscle pains/aches – 25%
• Dizzy light-headed – 18%
• Swollen neck glands – 15%
• Eye soreness – 14%
• Altered smell – 13%
• Chest pain tightness – 13%
• Fever – 13%
• Chills or shivers – 12%
• Shortness of breath – 11%
• Earache – 11%
• Loss of smell – 10%