The first Omicron symptom to watch for — it's present in 90% of new Covid variant cases.

Record-numbers of cases of the Omicron Covid are confirmed around the country daily, leading to fears of further restrictions as we head into Christmas.

Experts have now revealed that the symptoms of the new coronavirus variant are different from the other known variants, such as Delta, which was previously dominant in the UK.

A recent report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 89% of those infected with Omicron all share the same "initial" sign of being infected by the variant.

Scientists have reported that those who have tested positive with the variant have a dry cough and "scratchy throat". Some of the other early symptoms include include fatigue, congestion or a runny nose.

What are the main symptoms of Covid?

The most common symptoms of Covid are a high temperature, a new and continuous cough or a loss/change in sense of taste or smell, according to the NHS.

However, scientists believe that symptoms of Omicron are different to other variants.

South African doctor Angelique Coetzee, who first raised the alarm on Omicron, revealed previously that some patients – especially those who are unvaccinated – show some intense symptoms including headache and sore muscles (myalgia).

Though the symptoms of the Omicron variant has been found to be more mild so far, there are fears that it is more transmissible as well as concerns about whether it can evade immunity from vaccines or previous infection.

What to do if you think you have Covid?

If you believe you Covid, whether that’s Omicron or some other variant, get a test and then self-isolate for at least 10 days if its positive.

According to Gov.uk guidance, the first thing to do if you find yourself having Covid symptoms is stay at home. The website states: "You should arrange to have a PCR test as soon as possible. If this PCR test result is positive, you must continue to self-isolate."

For lateral flow tests, you can either choose to have them delivered at home or collected from a pharmacy.

Lateral flow tests can also be found at community sites and some schools and colleges, especially now with the NHS online service to get these tests being suspended due to “exceptionally high demand”. You can get PCR tests booked through the NHS.

If you're fully vaccinated and have been exposed to the virus, you're advised to take daily lateral flow tests for seven days even if you show no symptoms.

Those who are unvaccinated are not eligible for the daily test and should instead self-isolate for 10 days if they've come into contact with anyone who has tested positive.

He told the Sun: "There does seem to be an overlap with cold symptoms and there is an estimation from data from ZOE that a quarter of people who have colds actually have Covid.

"They do overlap but it seems that the onset of a cold is a bit more gradual. But with Omicron people get headaches and fatigue rapidly if they have Covid, whereas a cold develops over a few days."

Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, who was one of the first people to suspect the Omicron Covid strain, has said she noticed patients at her private clinic showing symptoms that are different from the Delta variant.

Dr Coetzee told the AFP that she alerted health officials of a "clinical picture that doesn't fit Delta" on 18 November when seven patients showed different symptoms that seemed "very much related to normal viral infection".

She said her patients presented with extreme tiredness, mild muscle aches, scratchy throat and dry cough.