Need to know

Covid vs flu symptoms and how to tell difference this winter

Dr Neel Patel explains how flu and Covid share symptoms overlap and how to tell the two apart

How to distinguish between Covid and flu as 'American' strain spreads:

• A doctor has outlined how to tell whether you have Covid or the flu as hospital admissions soar due to the 'American Covid' variant.
• UK Health Security Agency figures show Covid-related hospital admissions rose by nearly 50 per cent in a single week. Dr Neel Patel from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor warns more people will become ill in coming days.
• The new strain causes similar symptoms to other Covid variants including fever, headache, chills, runny nose, fatigue, aching muscles and dry cough. These symptoms closely resemble flu, making it difficult for Brits to distinguish between the conditions.
• Dr Patel explains the key differences in timing and intensity. "People with flu normally feel very unwell for two or three days and will continue to experience symptoms for around another five days," he says.
• "However, people with coronavirus usually begin to show symptoms five to six days after being exposed, and symptoms commonly last up to two weeks." Covid symptoms may also feel more intense than flu.
• The only way to be certain is through testing. "While COVID-19 tests are no longer freely available on the NHS, you can still buy lateral flow, PCR and antibody tests online," Dr Patel advises.
• READ THE FULL STORY: Doctor explains how to tell if it's flu or Covid as cases surge