A study has shown that coronavirus is the cause of sniffles and symptoms similar to common colds in one third of people.
Prof. Tim Spector runs the Covid Study, which tracks data from 1 million Britons. He said that mild symptoms of cold-like illness were common in fully vaccinated people.
Many people infected by the virus were warned that they were ‘going out to party and spreading it about’.
Professor of Genetic Epidemiology advised anyone suffering from symptoms such as sore throat or runny nose to stay home until they receive a positive test.
Professor Tim Spector, who manages a Covid Study that tracks data from one-million Britons on cold symptoms, stated that mildly vaccinated people tend to have mild cases of the common cold.
Professor Spector of King’s College London Zoe Covid said that ‘at the moment we’re estimating around one in three to one in four colds is actually due Covid.’
Times Radio interviewed him and said that the UK should be more open to testing other countries as well as allowing more people in isolation for cold symptoms.
He stated, “It’s quite a high percentage of people not bothering to get a lateralflow test or a PCR testing, going to parties, and spreading it about.”
“So, if this transfers to Omicron then that will compound the problem far faster than it would be necessary.
Professor Spector advised that Omicron should not be spread to people who have a cold.
Scientists hope that Omicron’s variant won’t cause severe side effects and that T-cell immunity will be present in vaccines to prevent serious disease. T-cells is a type white blood cells that destroys Covid (stock illustration).
He said, “That’s when your most infectious and most likely to transmit.”
“Whether you have a respiratory infection or not, it is a common cold.
“And so, we should really encourage people to not come into the office and not go to that Christmas party when they are feeling sick. Take a test and then, when the symptoms subside, they can come out – it doesn’t have to be ten days but just those first few days are probably the most crucial.
“I believe we must get this message out there in order to have an effect on the next few days.
“Everyone should be more alert to a variety of symptoms. Don’t wait for the loss or change in taste, smell, or sensation, and don’t wait until you get a fever. And, don’t wait for a persistent cough.
Scientists hope that Omicron’s variant won’t cause severe side effects and that T-cell immunity will be present in vaccines to prevent serious disease. T-cells, a white blood cell type that can kill Covid.
Matthew Snape is an Associate Professor in Vaccinology from Oxford University. Yesterday, Snape said that tests were underway in Britain to test whether Omicron could evade vaccinations. (stock image).
Matthew Snape is an Associate Professor in Vaccinology from Oxford University. Yesterday, Snape said that tests were underway in Britain to test whether Omicron could evade vaccinations.
He said: ‘The next few weeks are going to be so revealing and important – both as we get laboratory data back, but also if we start to see any knock-on effect of infections having an impact on hospitalisations and deaths.
“Even though there is no increase in severity [Omicron]This is both great and encouraging… but an increase in infections can actually lead to more severe disease, as more people become infected.
“That could happen. This will be apparent in the coming weeks. This will allow us to monitor what takes place through December, and into January.