I’m a Covid expert – two symptoms that mean you should assume you have the virus when you wake up

A COVID expert has warned people of the two symptoms that mean you should assume you have the virus when you wake up.

Professor Tim Spector said that fatigue in the morning, even after a good night’s sleep, and a sore throat may be tell-tale signs you have the virus.

The prof, who heads up the ZOE Health Study, added that a sore throat is more commonly reported in people with Covid than a regular cold.

Professor Spector tweeted his advice: “Twice as many covid cases as common colds currently- the ratio has never been so high.

“Symptoms much the same except generally more fatigue and sore throat – so best to assume it’s Covid!

“Hopefully this wave will be over soon.”

Prof Spector added that if you wake up with these symptoms you should try and take a test as soon as you can.

He said: “Try and get tested if you can. If you can’t get tested, assume you’ve got a cold and stay away from other people until you feel better.”

Last week he gave some insight into some of the more common variants in the UK.

“New study suggests that new BA4 and BA5 variants work by both evading the existing immune defences and also neutralising some of them.

“No surprise they are so successful as UK cases soar to record levels.”

It comes as experts revealed that the new BA.5 sub variant of Omicron is now the most dominant in the UK.

BA.5 was first detected in April and was made a variant of concern in May.

Omicron BA.5 now accounts for approximately 79% of UK cases as of 18 July.

Coronavirus cases have increased in recent weeks and fresh data recently states they are up 10 per cent on last week’s figures – but Omicron is a milder strain than those that came before it.

The mammoth roll out of vaccines and previous infections has helped protect Brits from serious side effects of the illness.