New signs of Covid have been revealed by an expert as a new variant of the virus emerges across the country.

The BA.2.86 coronavirus variant, otherwise known as “pirola”, first emerged in July after a heavy mutation from the previous variants of Omicron which were dominant.

While there hasn’t been any concerning increase in cases, doctors are beginning to find signs that the disease is slightly changing - so it's important to keep up-to-date with any symptoms to look out for.

The largest change of all is the belief that the disease is starting to affect people’s faces - while the previous most common symptoms - including a dry throat and cough, shortness of breath, and loss of the ability to taste or smell - have become less common.

One such symptom is eye irritation and a skin rash, according to Dr Johannes Uys, a GP from Broadgate General Practice. He told the Express: "Covid Pirola can cause visible facial symptoms such as eye irritation (pink eye) and a skin rash.”

He explained that the new symptoms are likely a result of Pirola evolving as it tries to compete with other variants of the virus.

It is believed the new variant of the bug - which caused such misery globally in 2020 and the two years that followed - affects the upper respiratory tract including the nose and the voice box. Dr Erick Eiting of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York said: "It isn’t the same typical symptoms that we were seeing before. It’s a lot of congestion, sometimes sneezing, usually a mild sore throat."

Dr Eiting said a stuffy nose comes first, before a sore throat emerges. The Zoe Covid Symptom study collects data on symptoms in the UK - and they found the same pattern. After the Omicron variant grew in late 2021, a sore throat became more common and changes to taste and smell became less common.

The Zoe Study released a list of other symptoms they had noted with the new variant, including:

  • Runny nose

  • Headache

  • Tiredness

  • Sneezing

  • Sore throat

There are also three lesser known symptoms of Covid to be aware of:

  • Digestive issues - which were more common towards the beginning of the pandemic

  • Toe changes - some experienced reddish bumps on their fingers and toes, occasionally sore

  • Confusion - some, particularly older people, experience confusion and delirium

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