As Covid still remains in the UK, it's important to be aware of symptoms.
Virus numbers are continuing to increase in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as Covid-19 infections in England appear to be levelling off, the latest figures show.
The current wave of the virus is being driven by a number of coronavirus variants that have been circulating for several months, including two that have now been named: Omicron BQ.1 and XBB.
The total number of people in private households in the UK testing positive for coronavirus stood at 2.05 million in the week to October 17, broadly unchanged on 2.01 million in the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Scotland has seen levels rise with 159,200 people likely to have Covid -19 - the equivalent of one in 35 - up from 144,400.
Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE Health Study, recently issued an update of the most common symptoms being reported in order to better protect yourself.
This was according to the ZOE app which uses information from those infected with Covid and lists their most common ailments.
Two types of coughs have been listed in the top eight most common Covid signs.
Dry cough
A dry cough is seen in around 53% of people self-reporting their symptoms, according to the ZOE Covid Study app. It is one of the 'classic' Covid symptoms and should therefore not be ignored.
A dry cough doesn't bring up mucus and may feel like a tickle in the throat. It can be persistent and last for a few days, with patients experiencing several coughing fits in a day.
Cough with phlegm
Although also similar to an infection with a cold, coughing up phlegm could also indicate Covid. As per the study data, around 45% of users report this symptom on the ZOE Covid Study app.
According to the NHS, the cough contains "thick mucus" and has been a key sign of a Covid infection.
Most common Covid symptoms
According to the ZOE Covid Study app, the eight main signs warning of a possible Covid infection are:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Blocked nose
- Headache
- Dry cough
- Sneezing
- Cough with phlegm
- A hoarse voice.
When to see a GP
The national health body added other key elements about your cough that should prompt a visit to your GP, including when:
- Your cough is not improving
- You're waking up at night coughing
- Your cough is changing, for example, coughing up blood or phlegm turning dirty
- Breathlessness is not improving
- You're worried about your symptoms
- You're worried about possible Long Covid symptoms in a child or young person under 18.
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