There are 21 different covid symptoms and most just feel like a cold, expert warns

There are 21 different coronavirus symptoms to look out for, and most just feel like a common cold, an expert has warned.

Since the start of the pandemic, a new persistent cough, a high temperature and a lack of taste and smell have been highlighted as key symptoms.

One scientist said people need to “urgently know” that there are more than just the three classic signs.

Professor Tim Spector, from King’s College London and lead on the Covid Symptom Study app, has now said that depending on how much protection you have had from a vaccine, then these symptoms could be different.

Data from the app shows that the rate of positivity is much higher in people with a first dose compared to those who are double jabbed.

Prof Spector said that since early on in the pandemic, data from the app showed that there were more symptoms than the three classic ones listed by the NHS.

“People urgently need to know there are more than just the three classic symptoms,” he explained.

“The top symptoms being currently logged in the Zoe app are headache, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue and sore throat, which for many will feel more like a common cold.

“The earlier people can catch the infection, the quicker they can self-isolate until symptoms abate and stop the spread.

“We encourage anyone feeling under the weather to take a test as soon as they can and stay at home.”

Around one in 264 people in the UK are currently estimated to have symptomatic covid, but what are the main 21 symptoms people have logged through the app?

1. High temperature (fever)

2. Chills or shivers

3. Persistent cough

4. Loss or change of smell

5. Loss or change in taste

6. Headache

7. Unusual tiredness

8. Sore throat

9. Sudden confusion

10. Skin rash

11. Changes in the mouth or tongue

12. Covid fingers or toes

13. Shortness of breath

14. Chest pains

15. Muscle pains

16. Hoarse voice

17. Diarrhoea

18. Skipping meals

19. Abdominal pains

20. Runny nose

21. Sneezing

Prof Spector also highlighted that symptoms might be different for people who have varying levels of protection.

Millions of vaccines have been rolled out across the UK.

So far 43.4 million people have had a first dose, while 31.7 have had a second.

The government has set out to jab all adults by next month in a bid to kerb infections and hospitalisations from the infection.

“After two doses of the vaccine headache is still number one, runny nose number two, sneezing, sore throat,” Prof Spector explained.

“If you have had a single dose it’s pretty similar except persistent cough comes in at number five.

“If you’ve not had any vaccine you are still going to get a headache, sore throat, runny nose, and you’re much more likely to get a fever and persistent cough.

“Things are a bit different, you can see how the vaccine is preventing you getting more of the classical symptoms. If you have had a vaccine, fever is not in the top five so don’t rely on this as an indicator as to whether or not you are infected.”

He added that it was not yet clear whether this shift in symptoms is due to the Delta variant and that more data would be needed to determine this.