Is it a cold or Covid?

CAMILLA FOSTER ASKS EXPERTS FOR ADVICE ABOUT WINTER BUGS

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WITH headlines buzzing about new Covid variants, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell whether that scratchy throat or runny nose is a sign of Covid or just a typical seasonal cold.

To help clear up the confusion, we spoke to those in the know.

What causes a cold and what causes Covid?

“Colds are caused by a bunch of different viruses, but the most common culprit is the rhinovirus, a tiny troublemaker that loves to set up camp in your nose and throat,” explains Dr Chun Tang, GP at Pall Mall Medical. “Covid, on the other hand, is caused by a single virus, SARS-CoV-2, a type of coronavirus.

“Both attack your respiratory system, but Covid tends to go deeper, sometimes affecting the lungs.”

What is the new strain of Covid and how is it different?