Covid infections in the UK have soared by almost 800,000 in a week, with some parts of the country nearing the record levels seen during the spring.
A total of 3.5 million people are estimated to have had Covid last week, up 29% from 2.7 million the week before, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
It marks the highest estimate for total infections since mid-April, although numbers are still below the record 4.9 million recorded at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave at the end of March.
An average of 351,000 people are contracting the virus each day, according to data from ZOE Covid study app, which is an increase of 13% from the beginning of this month. The previous record high of 350,000 daily infections was set in late March 2022.
The recent surge has largely been driven by the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 which are both much better at evading immunity built up by vaccination and past infection compared to their predecessor BA.2.
Health experts say there is “currently no evidence” to suggest the newest variants cause more serious illness, but the number of patients with Covid is creeping closer to the levels reached during the two waves of infection earlier this year.
The range of symptoms being reported is also changing as more people are infected with BA.4 and BA.5, with data from the ZOE Covid Study now showing a sore throat is the most common sign of infection.
By comparison, the more “old fashioned” Covid symptoms have dropped much further down the rankings, including a fever, and a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.
Professor Tim Spector, the lead scientist behind the research, said: “If you’re not testing, you should assume it’s Covid at the moment because it’s far more prevalent than anything else out there.
“It’s much more likely to be Covid than a summer cold.”
If you feel unwell or experience any Covid symptoms, it is advised that you stay at home and avoid contact with others where possible.
Listed are the 10 most reported Covid symptoms to look for right now, based on data from the ZOE Covid Study app.
1. Sore throat
Reported by 58% of people. A sore throat is now the most frequently reported symptom and typically occurs in the early stages of infection.
2. Headache
Reported by 49% of people. A headache is often one of the earliest signs of infection, with a study in Norway finding that people infected with Covid tend to have moderate to severely painful headaches, or feel pulsing or stabbing pains.
3. Blocked nose
Reported by 40% of people. A blocked is now reported as much as a runny nose, with people warned not to dismiss the symptom as a cold given the current high levels of infection.
4. Cough - no phlegm
Reported by 40% of people. A cough is widely recognised as one of the ‘traditional’ Covid symptoms and is often very dry. Drinking lots of fluids or taking paracetamol should help to ease the pain.