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UK's updated Covid list - 9th May 2022

The UK government’s listed nine more Covid symptoms, just as its ending free Covid testing in England. However, the National Health Service (NHS) has advised the public that these symptoms "are very similar" to colds or flu.

This has happened two years into the pandemic. The World Health Organisation, the USA and many other countries have been using a longer list of symptoms since earlier in the pandemic. However, there was debate in the UK over which symptoms were specifically Covid symptoms.

Its original list included a fever, frequent coughing, and loss of taste or smell. These were chosen because they were the most common symptoms people had. Among the new symptoms listed are shortness of breath, feeling tired, body aches, and headaches. A sore throat, blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhoea and feeling sick are also included.

4.9 million Covid cases were reported in the UK during the final week of March - the week before free Covid testing stopped. The NHS has asked people to stay home if they've got Covid symptoms plus a fever.

Professor Tim Spector’s been trying to get these symptoms added to the government’s list for two years. He studies Covid symptoms from data collected by the Zoe Covid-19 app. He wrote: "Main symptoms of coronavirus have finally changed after two years of lobbying … hurrah!"