The arrival of the "Omicron" variant has disrupted known information about "COVID-19" and raised concerns after the World Health Organization announced it spreads faster than "Delta." This has forced some countries to revert to lockdown policies in an attempt to cope with the spread of the new variant. Nearly two years into the pandemic, most people have become familiar with "COVID-19" symptoms; however, since the emergence of the "Omicron" variant on November 26, various changes have arisen in the usual signs and symptoms associated with "COVID-19" and its previous variants. Health experts have clarified that "Omicron" may not share the classic three symptoms of earlier variants: a new continuous cough, loss or change in taste or smell, and fever. Instead, many new symptoms resemble those of a cold.
About a month after the new variant emerged, "Omicron" symptoms were added to the official symptoms list to encourage more people to get tested for the virus. So, what are the new symptoms and how do they differ from colds?
**New Symptoms of the "Omicron" Variant**
Research from South Africa indicates that there are six symptoms to watch for:
- Sore throat
- Severe fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Lower back pain
- Night sweats
- Dry cough
According to the British Medical Journal, "Omicron" symptoms resemble cold symptoms, and if you are experiencing them, it's likely you have "COVID-19." This means people should not wait for a fever to get tested. Tim Spector, chief scientist at the ZOE Covid Study app in the UK, stated, "We need to educate people, return to basics, and say that if you have what feels like cold symptoms, stay away from people. You should not wait for the three traditional symptoms. If you have mild or severe cold symptoms, you are very likely infected with the virus."
**What are the Key Differences in Symptoms Between the New "COVID-19" Variant and Colds?**
While "Omicron" symptoms can mimic those of a cold, experts indicate that the main symptoms to watch for are headache and fatigue. Virologist and professor of molecular oncology, Professor Lawrence Young, told the British newspaper "The Sun": "There seems to be an overlap with cold symptoms, and data from the ZOE Covid Study estimates that a quarter of people with colds are in fact infected with COVID-19." He added, "They are indeed overlapping, but it seems that cold onset is more gradual. However, with Omicron, people experience headache and fatigue quickly if they are infected with COVID-19, while a cold develops over a few days."
