Covid season has arrived again in the UK as health experts warn rates have been rising over the last couple of months following the emergence of a new variant.
BA.2.86 – nicknamed ‘Pirola’ – was detected in the UK at the end of August and “sporadic” cases have since been identified in most regions of the country.
Early data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) suggests that the variant is unlikely to cause more severe illness than current Covid strains currently in circulation, nor is it more likely to evade existing antibodies.
Read more: Unusual Covid symptoms that mean you might be infected
According to the latest data from the ZOE Health Study, the most common symptoms of Covid right now include:
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Runny or blocked nose
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Headache
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Fatigue
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Sore throat
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Sneezing
The NHS adds that aches and pains, shortness of breath, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, and a high temperature or chills can also be a sign of Covid infection.
How long do Covid symptoms last?
If you do have Covid, symptoms will usually start to begin anywhere from two to five days after exposure.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), symptoms can last up to 14 days after infection and in some cases, it can take weeks or even months to fully recover.
The NHS says most people will make a full recovery within 12 weeks and anyone who still has symptoms after this point is considered to have long Covid or post Covid syndrome.
How long will I be contagious with Covid?
If you’ve tested positive for Covid, or have symptoms, it’s possible to spread the virus to others from around two days before you notice any symptoms.
Most people will stop being contagious after five days, according to the NHS, but it is possible to still be infectious for up to 10 days after symptoms start.
What are the Covid rules on staying at home?
There are no strict legal rules around isolation any more, but current advice is that you try to stay at home if you have symptoms and a high temperature, or if you don’t feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities.
If you’ve tested positive for Covid, the NHS says you should:
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try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days after the day the test was taken if you are under 18 years old
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try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over
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avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test
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