Omicron: Dr Amir talks through the symptoms of the new strain
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As more cases of new variants of coronavirus are detected, experts are realising symptoms can vary. Omicron, the latest “variant on concern”, is on the rise in the UK pushing the Government to unleash tightened restrictions on Britons just one week before Christmas.
Since it was first detected in South Africa, over 3,000 confirmed cases of the variant have been recorded in the UK.
Many of the symptoms of Omicron may not be quite the same as the traditional symptoms of coronavirus.
However, a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that a cough was the “initial” sign of the variant which it says is present in around “89 percent” of cases investigated.
Scientists report a dry cough and “scratchy throat” with the Omicron variant, rather than a chesty cough.
Other early symptoms also listed include fatigue, congestion or a runny nose.
Some of these are slightly different from the traditional symptoms of coronavirus.
According to the NHS, the “most common” symptoms of coronavirus include “headache, loss of smell and taste, nasal congestion and rhinorrhea, cough, muscle pain, sore throat, fever, diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties”.
While, so far, it seems Omicron symptoms are milder than earlier variants of the virus, it appears to be more transmissible.
There are also concerns it may be able to evade vaccines.
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What should I do if I think I have Omicron?
Like with any suspected coronavirus cases, people are told they should seek a COVID-19 test and self-isolate at home for 10 days if this is positive.
Gov.uk states: “If you have COVID-19 symptoms you should stay at home and self-isolate immediately.
“You should arrange to have a PCR test as soon as possible. If this PCR test result is positive, you must continue to self-isolate.”
Lateral flow tests are available for delivery or to be collected from pharmacies.
PCR tests can be booked through the NHS.
However, in recent days both services appeared to become overwhelmed as the number of people trying to book or collect tests before Christmas has skyrocketed.
Despite this, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has assured that there was no shortage and that the NHS website had been suspended due to “exceptionally high demand”.
According to the Agency, this has since been amended.
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A UKHSA spokesperson said: “Everyone who needs a lateral flow test can collect test kits – either at their local pharmacy, some community sites and some schools and colleges.
“Due to exceptionally high demand, ordering lateral flow tests on gov.uk has been temporarily suspended to fulfil existing orders.”
Fully vaccinated people who have been exposed to COVID-19, even if they have no symptoms, are advised to take daily lateral flow tests for seven days.
Unvaccinated adults are not eligible for the daily testing rules.
Instead, they must self-isolate for 10 days if they come into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.
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