Cold and flu symptoms should be viewed as potential Covid cases, doctors warn
3 years, 11 months ago

Cold and flu symptoms should be viewed as potential Covid cases, doctors warn

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Patients reporting symptoms of the common cold should be treated as possible coronavirus cases, a group of doctors has urged the government in a new open letter published by The British Medical Journal. While Covid-19 is far more severe than seasonal influenza, the two conditions do share a number of symptoms like a runny or blocked nose, a sore throat and headaches, the GPs said, arguing it was “vital” that Boris Johnson’s Cabinet raised public awareness and brought its defintion of the respiratory disease in line with that of the World Health Organisation as part of the broader campaign to tame the pandemic. “These symptoms are often inadvertently picked up while dealing with patients’ other more pressing health issues,” the collective of 140 east London physicians and healthcare workers wrote to the UK’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty. “It is vital to now change the UK Covid-19 case definition and test criteria to include coryza and cold, making them consistent with WHO.” The signatories go on to advise Professor Whitty: “Tell the public, especially those who have to go out to work and their employers, that even those with mild symptoms should not go out, prioritising the first five days of self-isolation when they are most likely to be infectious.

History of this topic

Number of people in hospital with flu quadrupled in a month, NHS figures show
5 days, 12 hours ago
Cold or flu? Experts on how to tell the difference as Christmas 'flunami' sweeps the UK... and when you need to seek medical help
2 weeks, 5 days ago
NHS warning over Christmas gatherings as flu cases soar in worst December for three years
Trending News
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Urgent ‘festive flu’ warning as NHS urges people to book pre-Christmas jab
3 weeks, 1 day ago
Are you worried about the NHS this winter? Join The Independent Debate
4 weeks ago
Health chiefs issue warning over tuberculosis as cases on the rise in the UK
1 month ago
Cases of flu ‘rising rapidly’ as Brits urged to get vaccinations
1 month ago
Free COVID tests are back. Here's how to order a test to your home
3 months, 1 week ago
Covid making worrying comeback amid summer surge and Olympics infections, WHO official warns
5 months ago
UK hospitals tell visitors with Covid symptoms to stay away amid summer outbreak of new FLiRT variants
5 months, 4 weeks ago
Covid-19 or Seasonal Flu? Surge in Patients With Throat Pain, Cough & Fever Puts Doctors on Alert
8 months, 1 week ago
Winter brings surge in respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 variant: Here's how you can protect yourself
11 months, 2 weeks ago
Covid and norovirus hospital admissions soar as NHS leaders issue cold weather warning
11 months, 3 weeks ago
Covid and flu cases are on the rise. These symptoms mean it’s time to see a doctor
1 year ago
Flu and Covid warning ahead of seasonal spike in cases
1 year, 1 month ago
COVID Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing In Fall 2023
1 year, 1 month ago
Symptoms of long Covid explained as almost two million people suffer in the UK
1 year, 2 months ago
Deborah Birx warns Americans are dangerously underestimating Covid surge
1 year, 4 months ago
NHS flu jabs and Covid boosters to be scrapped for millions
1 year, 5 months ago
Long Covid ‘brain fog’ can last for years, scientists find
1 year, 5 months ago
Govt Eases Covid Guidelines for International Travellers
1 year, 5 months ago
Covid-19 Inquiry: People encouraged to share pandemic experiences
1 year, 7 months ago
Concerns rise over spread of respiratory disease with Covid-like symptoms
1 year, 7 months ago
World must prepare for disease more deadlier than Covid, WHO chief warns
1 year, 7 months ago
Covid symptoms UK: 10 most common symptoms as UK cases rise
1 year, 9 months ago
‘Jewel in the crown’ Covid-19 infection survey bows out
1 year, 9 months ago
Ex-UK health chief defends record after COVID messages leak
1 year, 10 months ago
FDA authorises first ever flu-Covid home test
1 year, 10 months ago
Top health concerns of the nation revealed
1 year, 11 months ago
Covid: Top five symptoms after vaccination and the signs you might have it
1 year, 11 months ago
Christmas Covid infections spiked to highest level since summer
2 years ago
Flu and Covid ‘twindemic’ hits NHS amid spike in hospital admissions
2 years ago
Covid-19 UK: Winter wave picks up pace as hospital admissions soar by a third
2 years ago
What are the symptoms of Covid? Top symptom is ‘sore throat’, says latest data
2 years, 2 months ago
‘Twindemic’ warning as health chiefs launch Covid and flu vaccination drive
2 years, 3 months ago
‘Record-high’ 892,000 people living with long Covid for a year, figures show
2 years, 4 months ago
Coronavirus UK: Nurse’s final wish revealed after ‘long Covid’ turns out to be terminal cancer
2 years, 6 months ago
Feeling unwell and not sure if it's COVID-19 or the flu? Here's how and where you can get a multi-virus test
2 years, 6 months ago
‘Brutal’ NHS pressures stop Covid testing
2 years, 8 months ago
Boris Johnson refuses to rule out future lockdown if more deadly Covid variant emerges
2 years, 9 months ago
Covid-19: NHS Adds Nine New Symptoms To The Official List In UK
2 years, 9 months ago
COVID-19 'let loose' in nervy pandemic experiment
2 years, 10 months ago
Covid-19 infections above pre-Christmas levels – but falling in England
2 years, 10 months ago
UK: People with COVID in England won’t need to self-isolate
2 years, 10 months ago
Seasonal diseases on rise, hospitals chock-a-block
2 years, 11 months ago
Covid-19 UK: 40% of Omicron hospitalisations are unvaccinated adults, officials finally reveal
3 years ago
New research claims Omicron has cold-like symptoms, resembles parainfluenza
3 years ago
UK health boss: COVID-19 rules could tighten by Christmas
3 years ago
How to reduce your chances of catching Covid before Christmas
3 years ago
Third day of frustration over access to tests as new Covid pass rules kick in
3 years ago

Discover Related