While the pandemic might have started over half a decade ago, the effects of Covid are still apparent with the deadly virus continuing to evolve and spread throughout the world.
What has always made coronavirus a challenging battle to fight for health experts though is the similarities it shares with flu variants and even the common cold, with almost identical symptoms appearing in many of the less severe cases.
While this does make it something that a lot of people can 'deal' with if they catch it, it also allows the virus to spread with greater ease to those who might suffer more significantly if they were to contract it, as people are far more likely to go about their everyday life if they think they 'just' have a cold.
You can always test, of course, but scientists have thankfully outlined the one key distinctive symptom that makes the new Covid variant – referred to as 'Stratus' – easy to differentiate from your average cold.
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As shared by Tyla, Dr Kaywaan Khan, founder of Hannah London Clinic, has revealed that a scratchy or sore throat is the one key sign that you've probably got something a little more serious than a cold, and there's a good chance that it's Covid.
"You can still get some of the same features as with the common cold, like a cough or runny nose, but we are seeing a lore more hoarseness of voice," Dr Khan revealed.
"It's not a defining feature, you can experience this with the common cold too, but with Covid, you can get a bit of laryngitis and this hoarse voice," the doctor added.
On top of this, something else to look out for would be the long-recognized loss of taste and even loss of smell, which have been known to come with some Covid cases since the very first variant that spread in late 2019 and early 2020.
The best thing you can do from a proactive point of view is to go and get the Covid vaccine alongside your regular flu jab if you're eligible, as it'll ensure that you've got the best possible protection that allows your body to deal with the virus if you contract it.
On top of this, experts have advised immunocompromised individuals to seek out their GP, who can then provide further information, advice, and even antiviral medication in the right circumstances.
You might understandably want to distance yourself as much as possible from the pandemic now that the world has moved past it, but Covid is still about and it's definitely not something to take lightly.