The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidelines on treatments against COVID-19 in November. Variants of the virus tend to cause less severe disease symptoms than those that were released during during the pandemic in 2020. In addition, the level of immunity is higher as a result of successive vaccination campaigns. However, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to circulate and infect Spain. That’s why the latest report published on December 7 by the Carlos III Health Institute on the surveillance system of acute respiratory infections recorded an “upward fluctuation” in positive cases of the virus.
Compared to previous weeks, the Ministry of Health reported increasing infections. In the week of November 20–26, the positive rate was 8.9%, and in the following week, with data taken up to December 3, positive cases increased by 15.2%. In fact, in Aragon, respiratory pathologies such as those caused by the coronavirus increase the pressure on health and emergency centers.
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The main variants of covid-19
The Ministry of Health controls two variants of SARS-CoV-2: the XBB.1.5-like + F456L, with 42.59% of positive cases, and the BA.2.86, which is in 44.44% of those confirmed. The first is a subvariant of Omicron, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and has a mutation in the F456L spike. The second (BA.2.86) is part of the endless lines of omicrons that surpass the immune system and are the most common in infections today. The latter was recognized in September 2023.
Common symptoms of covid-19, now
The American Medical Association (AMA) updated the most frequent symptoms in the more than three years that the coronavirus has been among us. The most frequent lines come from omicron and cause “same symptoms in all variants” in common cold cases with or without fever, cough, congestion, and, in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. These are the most common:
- tiredness
- Dolor is muscular
- Ugly throat
- Headache
- fever
- It rocking
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
How many days do COVID-19 symptoms last?
It is rare to find along these lines other symptoms common to previous Alpha or Beta versions, such as loss of taste or smell, even if this happens. Most of the symptoms last 5 to 7 days, according to the American Medical Association.
How do I know if it is COVID or not?
According to the Mayo Clinic, COVID, the cold, some allergies, and the flu share similar symptoms, but there are some differences. For example, COVID-19 usually causes a headache, something unusual for a common cold. The common cold is caused by a rhinovirus, and SARS-Cov-2, in its various lineages, is the cause of the COVID-19 infection.
Congestion is common to both, but fatigue is usually greater and more common when the infection is caused by the coronavirus. In addition, COVID often causes gastrointestinal dysfunction (vomiting and nausea), but the common cold is rare.
