Key sign of Covid disappears from top 20 symptoms list as infection rates rise

The main symptoms of Covid-19 appear to have changed - with fever dropping out of the top 20 signs to look out for, according to new research.

It comes as the number of coronavirus infections in the UK has exceeded more than two million, for the first time since July.

However, figures show the rate of increase may be slowing, and health experts have called the trend "encouraging".

They said the wave of the virus at the moment "may have already peaked", with Covid-19 hospital numbers seeming to have levelled off recently.

However, there are renewed efforts for people to have the autumn Covid-19 booster jab, as approximately four in 10 over-75s are yet to, reports the Manchester Evening News.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), just more than two million people in private UK households will have tested positive for coronavirus in the week to October 10.

This marks a 15 per cent increase from 1.7 million the previous week, and is the highest total since the week to July 26.

However, the number is still considerably below the peak of 3.8 million, reached in early July, and caused by the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants of the virus.

The 15 per cent rise is less than has been seen in the past few weeks.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), just more than two million people in private UK households will have tested positive for coronavirus in the week to October 10 (Getty Images)

Although infections have increased in England and Wales, the trend in Scotland and Northern Ireland has been called "uncertain" by the ONS.

Additionally, the Zoe Health Study says the main symptoms of coronavirus to watch out for may have changed.

Previously, data indicated that a fever was a common sign of Covid, but it has now fallen out of the top 20 symptoms to look out for, according to Professor Tim Spector.

He said: "It really is a complete waste of everyone's time to be screening workplaces and care homes... for fever at the moment."

However, he did stress that if you have any of the following symptoms, you should get tested and record your result in the ZOE app.

The most recent data from the ZOE study states that the top Coronavirus symptoms to be aware of are:

• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Blocked nose
• Headache
• Dry cough
• Sneezing
• Cough with phlegm
• Hoarse voice
• Muscle pains aches
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Altered smell
• Swollen neck glands
• Eye soreness
• Chest pain and tightness
• Loss of smell
• Shortness of breath
• Earache
• Chills or shivers
• Joint pain, especially shoulders