Signs of fever, cough, loss of taste or smell that are not easily recognized in milder casesThe UK could increase its pandemic response by expanding the symptom list to match that of other countries.Experts in The BMJ recommend that the UK expand its official list for covid-19 symptoms to help prevent cases from being missed and improve the country's response to pandemics.They claim that by limiting symptomatic testing only to people with these official symptoms, "will miss or delay the identification of many covid-19 patients, hindering efforts to interrupt transmission."The British public was told to self-isolate during the covid-19 pandemic and to get tested if they develop a fever, new continuous cough, loss of sense of smell, or any other symptoms.Alex Crozier, University College London, and his colleagues claim that many people don’t have these symptoms initially or ever. Other symptoms can often present earlier.They also point out that The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have nine and eleven more case-defining symptoms than the UK. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control describes a wide range of symptoms that are associated with mild-to moderate covid-19. These include headaches, weakness, tiredness, muscle pains, runny noses, appetite loss, and sore throat.These symptoms, which are not official, are more common among young people who have not been vaccinated or are partially vaccinated. They are the most susceptible to passing on the virus.They write that it seems counterintuitive to not have any official UK guidance regarding wider covid-19 symptoms or to offer different testing options for people with official symptoms and those without symptoms.They recognize that expanding the definition of a case is likely to increase testing demand and number self-isolating. However, it would need careful implementation.New data however suggests that people could be tested based on a combination of official and unofficial symptoms to identify more cases faster without exceeding their testing capabilities.They write that vaccinations alone will not end the pandemic. High hospitalisation rates may be caused by new, transmissible and partially vaccine-resistant variants.They add that inequalities in vaccination also shift the burden of disease and disruption onto the most disadvantaged communities.Control of transmission must be improved in order to reopen society faster and more fairly. They conclude that this starts with a more contextually appropriate case definition, and relies on information-led adaptive public health responses.###Externally peer-reviewed? YesType of evidence: Data Analysis; OpinionSubject: Covid-19 symptoms
