ANYONE experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms should get a Covid test, one expert has warned.
The three main symptoms of Covid-19 highlighted by the NHS include a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a loss of taste and smell – but one expert says cold symptoms are also a key sign of infection.
If you’re struggling with cold and flu-like symptoms then it might actually be Covid-19
Professor Tim Spector urged people who are feeling under the weather to get a coronavirus test
When it comes to Covid-19 infections, the UK currently has more cases than other European countries.
This, Professor Tim Spector of the Zoe Symptom Tracker App from King’s College London says is because of our attitude towards the virus.
In a YouTube video he addressed his appearance on This Morning earlier in the week, where he had been criticised for telling people to stay at home if they had a cold.
Host Phillip Schofield had explained how his daughter had been scared to leave the house because she had a persistent cough. She took both a lateral flow and a PCR test – both of which were negative.
Prof Spector said she had done the ‘exactly the right thing’ and added that many people are not aware that other symptoms – such as a runny nose or sore throat, are actually signs of Covid.
He said: “It’s easier to work at home, just spend a couple of days if you are feeling under the weather without spreading it around and get a test.
“If you do have a cold just think, it could be Covid, keep your distance before whether you know it is or not.”
“Especially if you’re young or you have been double vaccinated”, he explained.
He added: “So we want people to stop a moment and think if they are going into crowded spaces.”
Prof Spector said infections are high in the UK for two reasons. He explained that the first reason is a lack of masks and social distancing and the second is because we’re ignorant of the symptoms
“We should be looking out for things like sore throat, runny nose and sneezing. The classic three – cough, fever and anosmia are rarer these days, yet the government has done nothing.
“By not updating advice, we’re letting people into care homes, schools, workplaces and large gatherings displaying known signs of Covid.”
Data from the ZOE App suggest that one in 95 people in the UK have Covid.
Prof Spector added that if we don’t wake up to the fact these cold-like symptoms could be Covid, we will continue to keep numbers high.
He added: This will put unnecessary strain on an exhausted NHS and be letting more than 170 people die every day.”
Prof Spector highlighted that he had visited his mother in a care home and the only precaution that had been taken was to take his temperature.
He said that by not recognising cold and flu symptoms we could be putting each other at risk.
