Covid symptoms have shifted since 2020 with experts warning UK households about new highly transmissible variants ahead of Christmas
James Rodger Content Editor
09:37, 01 Dec 2025
Covid symptoms have shifted with experts warning UK households about new highly transmissible variants (Image: SimpleImages via Getty Images)
All UK households displaying three symptoms are being urged to familiarise themselves with Covid signs before Christmas arrives. Covid continues to trigger serious illness, especially amongst vulnerable populations.
The virus keeps mutating, with fresh Covid variants spreading rapidly through coughs, sneezes or simply talking. According to specialists, the symptom catalogue has changed since 2020.
Signs now encompass cold-like indicators, such as runny nose, sore throat or congested sinuses. Others might experience fever or chills, a lingering cough, exhaustion, headaches, breathing difficulties, or losing taste and smell.
“Stratus is linked to hoarseness and fatigue, whereas Nimbus is associated with a ‘razor-blade’ sore throat and digestive symptoms like nausea and bloating,” explains Dr Bruno Silvester Lopes, lecturer in microbiology at Teesside University. “Both are highly transmissible but not more severe than previous variants.
“Both can give you a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing,” says Dr Chun Tang, a GP at Pall Mall Medical. “However, Covid can also cause fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and that telltale loss of taste or smell – although that’s less common with newer variants”, reports Birmingham Live.
“Covid is also more likely to make you feel wiped out, like you’ve been hit by a truck, whereas a cold tends to stay in your head and chest.
“So, while a cold might need a bit of close contact to catch, Covid can sometimes sneak across the room if you’re unlucky.”
Professor Adam Finn, a paediatrics expert at the University of Bristol, commented: “It looks like flu cases are going up early this year. Seasonal epidemics often get going in children first and then spread through the adult population.”
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