How long Omicron symptoms will last is suggested by the latest data from current cases.
Omicron has now become the dominant COVID variant in many countries around the world.
At the moment the main concern is that new coronavirus variants may cause serious illness.
The data on the latest Omicron variants suggests that it is somewhat different with other COVID variants.
Omicron shares many similar symptoms with a common cold such as fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and sore throat.
The data collected on Omicron by the ZOE COVID Symptom study indicates that the virus is less severe than the other COVID-19 variants.
So far Omicron symptoms have also been generally milder than those associated with the previously dominant Delta variant.
The data on the duration of Omicron infection also suggests that the recovery time is quicker and the illness is getting shorter — perhaps as little as a few days.
Professor Tim Spector who specialises in genetic epidemiology and the lead scientist of the ZOE COVID study, said:
“Broadly what we’re seeing now is the majority of people testing PCR positive actually have cold-like symptoms and they do not have the classical triad of ill Covid symptoms of fever, loss of smell and taste and persistent cough.”
Omicron symptoms
The Omicron variant is not so strongly linked to some signs that are frequently connected to COVID.
For example, a loss of the sense of smell does not seem to be linked to Omicron.
Infection with the Omicron variant can be difficult to diagnose without testing because the symptoms vary between people.
It will depend on the person’s age, their vaccination status and other biological factors specific to them.
Some people may experience a very heavy cold, others lighter symptoms and others no symptoms at all.
However, both prior coronavirus infection and vaccination can neutralize the Omicron variant and reduce the risk of serious symptoms and hospitalisation.
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