People who test positive for the new variant of the coronavirus, first found in Britain, are more likely to have symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fatigue, but less likely to develop taste and anemia, according to a British study.
The variant, which appeared in the south-east of England in December, is thought to be more contagious and may be associated with higher mortality rates although evidence of increased death rates is not yet strong and is uncertain.
The British Statistical Office reports that other differences have been observed between those infected with the UK variant and others with COVID-19.
"Loss of taste and loss of smell were significantly less common in the positive tests that were compatible with the new variant than in the triple positives," the agency said in a COVID-19 analysis of typical people in England. period from 15 November 2020 to 16 January 2021.
A "triple positive" result in a PCR test (ie by the molecular method of PCR analysis) indicates that someone has been infected with the coronavirus, but not with the British variant. "Other symptoms were more common in those infected with the new variant with the biggest differences being cough, sore throat, fatigue, myalgia and fever," the agency said. "There is no evidence of differences in gastrointestinal symptoms, shortness of breath and headaches ".
Source: RES-EIA