Do you know the nine new symptoms of COVID-19? 

· by · in COVID-19, Public health, Safer Merton. ·

The Government has added nine new symptoms to the list of COVID-19 indicators.  

If you are an adult, you should also look out for: 

  • a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) 
  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours 
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste 
  • shortness of breath 
  • feeling tired or exhausted 
  • an aching body 
  • a headache 
  • a sore throat 
  • a blocked or runny nose 
  • loss of appetite 
  • diarrhoea 
  • feeling sick or being sick. 

With free testing no longer available, the guidance is that if you have these symptoms – particularly a high temperature ‒ and feel like you’re not well enough to go to your normal activities, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. 

Dr Dagmar Zeuner, Director of Public Health at Merton Council, said: ‘It’s important to remember that COVID-19 has not gone and is still circulating in the community.  

‘We must do everything we can to stop the spread to protect ourselves and particularly those who are most vulnerable. Vaccination is key and it is never too late to take it up. 

‘We should also all continue to wash our hands regularly, wear masks in crowed places and if you feel unwell, stay at home until you feel better.’ 

It is also important to keep homes and business premises well ventilated, particularly before and after having visitors, even opening the windows for 10 minutes will be enough.  

Vaccination clinics are still available across the borough. Visit the NHS website to find out their location. 

If you think you may have COVID-19, you can get further advice from the NHS website. 

For those who are at highest risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19, the NHS is offering antibody and antiviral treatments to people with coronavirus (COVID-19) who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill.  

There is also guidance on the symptoms of COVID-19 you need to look for in a child. 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) has also issued guidance on how to live with COVID-19.