UK officials expand their Covid symptoms list with nine more signs of illnes

UK Covid symptoms list expanded with nine more signs of illness Symptoms including shortness of breath, feeling tired and loss of appetite added to official list the Guardian

he official list of Covid-19 symptoms on the NHS has been extended to cover nine new symptoms, including sore throat, fatigue and headache.

They join the three symptoms of a fever, a new and persistent cough, and a loss or change in taste or smell, according to nhs.uk.

Extending the list may help reduce infections by helping people detect whether they may have Covid; however, it coincides with the end of the offer of free universal Covid-19 tests to help people confirm whether they have the virus.

Covid infection levels have hit a record high in the UK, with almost 5 million people estimated to be infected.

The new signs are:

• Shortness of breath.

• Feeling tired or exhausted.

• An aching body.

• A headache.

• A sore throat.

• A blocked or runny nose.

• Loss of appetite.

• Diarrhoea.

• Feeling sick or being sick.

A note on the website states: “The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.”

The UK has had just three symptoms on the list since the emergence of the virus two years ago, despite other organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US having longer symptom lists for some time. ...