One of the very first signs you might have the Omicron variant

A sore throat is one of the earliest signs of having the Omicron variant, according to experts.

The Covid symptom will usually appear in the first week of illness and improve quite quickly.

Professor Tim Spector, the scientist behind symptom tracker app Zoe, says the symptom will feel worse on the first day of infection but get better on each following day.

On average, a sore throat will last two to three days but can last longer in adults.

If a sore throat is persisting, it’s unlikely to be Covid.

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Almost half of people who are ill with Covid will experience a sore throat. However, it’s more common in adults aged 18 to 65 than the elderly and those under 18.

Around 11 per cent of people who were ill with Covid reported a sore throat as their only symptom.

The mutant variant continues to sweep the nation with cold-like symptoms.

There are over 100,000 new cases being registered each and every single day in the UK currently.

It has led to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales introducing fresh curbs and measures from Boxing Day in each of the respective devolved nations.

Experts have warned the signs and symptoms are far more similar to a common cold, meaning Omicron could be missed.

But despite this, the milder form of Covid has caused a huge rise and boom of virus cases.

Congestion, sneezing and night sweats have also been linked to the new variant, which is sweeping the country and overtaking the strain Delta, which originated in Kent and was first detected in England before Christmas last year.

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