Covid symptoms: What are the symptoms of the Delta variant? What are most common signs of coronavirus?

While vaccinations in Scotland are helping to ease concerns and break links between coronavirus infections and hospitalisations, the Delta variant is continuing to sweep across the UK and keep Covid transmission rates high.

Recent weeks in Scotland have seen seven day case rates and daily positive Covid case counts sharply increase, with over 43,000 cases across seven days reported in early September.

In the four weeks up to the week ending 8 August, whole genome sequencing of positive Covid-19 tests in the UK found that over 99% of sequences obtained were Delta (B.1.617.2).

While First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the recent spike in new Covid cases should now be plateauing, here’s what you need to know about the Delta variant’s symptoms and the most common signs of coronavirus.

What are the Delta variant symptoms?

In an even more confusing twist, the onset of British summer time as a period in which many hayfever sufferers find themselves feeling under the weather has clashed with the spread of the Delta variant and some of its very hayfever-like symptoms.

Covid symptoms: What are the symptoms of the Delta variant? What are most common signs of coronavirus? (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

These include headaches, runny noses, sore throats and fevers.

In June, National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch described the strain of the virus as “horrid" and warned people not to be complacent with mixing and precautions after their first vaccine, saying this would only give around 30% of immunity against the tough, new covid-19 strain.

Professor Leitch said: “The Delta variant has changed the game in one crucial way.

“Everything still works – distancing, ventilation, handwashing all still works – but what’s new about the Delta variant, and this is horrid, and we’ve learned it increasingly over the last few weeks, is the second dose is required for decent protection.

“You get about 30% protection from one dose, you get 80 to 85% from two.”

How effective are Covid vaccines against the Delta variant? What does 'high viral load' mean?

What are most common signs of coronavirus?

The Delta variant differs to classic coronavirus symptoms as they are more similar to cold and flu-like symptoms.

As a result, many who have tested positive for Covid-19 and the Delta strain have said they felt slightly off or unwell rather than experiencing a sudden onset of symptoms such as a loss or change in taste or smell.

The most common symptoms for coronavirus on the whole, according to the NHS, are a new continuous cough, high temperature and a loss or change in taste or smell.

The differences in symptoms comes as a result of the virus mutating, with slight differences or changes in symptoms to be expected.

Despite this, however, the advice remains very much the same – with those feeling unwell advised to order a lateral flow device test or to stay at home and order a PCR test if they are experiencing any of the signs of coronavirus and its latest variant.

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