New Covid symptom overtakes fever and loss of smell as…

New Covid symptom overtakes fever and loss of smell as next wave sweeps across Ireland

Ireland's health experts have issued warnings about a possible "twindemic" coming down the tracks, amid growing concern about the combination of Covid and the winter flu.

The Emergency Department Task Force met last month to discuss a worst-case winter scenario. It’s feared this could see 17,000 people in hospital with Covid, 4,500 flu patients and 700 in ICU.

The HSE's Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry, said that “we’re right to be concerned".

He added: "We’re not out of the woods yet and there is always a minor chance that our health system could face pressure this year, so, yes, some trepidation looking forward, but by no means are we certain we’re going to see the catastrophic predictions some are making.”

According to the latest figures, 1,663,653 people tested positive for Covid in Ireland the last two weeks. There are currently 416 people in hospital with Covid, of which 9 are in ICU.

It comes as a new dominant symptom is being reported. Professor Tim Spector, co-founder of the Covid ZOE app, says that people who now get the previous presiding symptoms rule out having Covid completely, Mirror UK reports.

With the new symptom being a sore throat - and two-thirds of all people now reporting having one when they first contract Covid - Prof Young told The Independent : “Many people are still using the Government guidelines about symptoms which are wrong.

"At the moment, Covid starts in two-thirds of people with a sore throat. Fever and loss of smell are really rare now – so many old people may not think they’ve got Covid. They’d say it’s a cold and not be tested.”

According to the HSE, the most common symptoms of Covid are: fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) - including having chills, dry cough and fatigue (tiredness).

A spokesperson said: "Covid symptoms can be like symptoms of cold, flu or hay fever. You may not have all of the symptoms or your symptoms may be mild.

"You can still get infected if you are fully vaccinated. But your symptoms may be mild.

"It can take up to 14 days after you are infected for symptoms to show. You can spread Covid during this time.

"If you have any symptoms of Covid, even mild ones, you should: self-isolate (stay in your room) until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone and wear a face mask if you have to be around other people. Do these even if you completed your first round of Covid vaccination, had a booster, or had Covid in the past.