Covid estimates have reached record levels in the UK in recent weeks - and experts have now listed three symptoms to look out for in the current wave of the virus.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Covid Infection Survey found that one in 17 people in Scotland were believed to have the virus in the week ending June 30.
Experts say that the percentage of people testing positive for the virus is likely due to the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants in the UK.
Research from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found that BA.5 may be growing 35.1 per cent faster than the currently dominant BA.2 Omicron variant.
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BA.5 is likely to become the dominant variant in the UK, health officials have warned.
Data released by the ZOE Covid Study shows that as of July 11 there have been 349,773 new daily symptomatic infections in the UK, the Mirror reports.
It further estimates the R-value is about 1.1 for the UK and one in 15 people in the country currently have Covid.
It comes as scientists from the study have warned to look out for a sore throat, blocked nose and dry cough as the three primary symptoms of the current wave.
Fully vaccinated people are still catching Covid because multiple variants, Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, are in circulation at the same time, they added.
However, they do say that daily cases are starting to drop slightly but it is important to stay vigilant.
Professor Tim Spector, ZOE Scientific Co-Founder and lead scientist on the ZOE Health Study, comments on the latest COVID data: “COVID is still rampant in the population. ZOE Health Study data shows that there were over 350,000 daily COVID cases this week- a new record for the UK.
"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.
"Even if people have had a past infection and are fully vaccinated, people are still catching it.
"This is because there are multiple COVID variants coexisting at the same time (BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5). The top symptoms to keep an eye on including sore throat, blocked nose and dry cough.
"The good news is that case numbers won’t rise indefinitely and we’re already seeing a slight drop in numbers day to day.
"Although we all want to make the most of the good weather, people will need to decide for themselves whether going to large events, working from the office or using busy public transport is worth the risk.”
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