Credit UK Govt - Jan 25th, 2021
#15,751
With the twin caveats that identifying UK variant (B.1.1.7) cases remains difficult and the numbers (see chart above) are incomplete, and the following information is based on self-reported symptoms, we have a comparison of reported symptoms produced by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) between `wild type' COVID cases and those presumed to be infected by the new variant.
This latest ONS report details several COVID analyses, including:
- Percentage testing positive for COVID-19 by patient-facing and non-patient-facing job roles by age
- Symptoms profile by cases compatible with the new UK variant and other positive cases
- Number and age of people individuals had contact with
- Percentage of Year 12 to age 24 years with COVID-19 by employment status
Based on this early, and admittedly preliminary data, patients with presumed UK variant infections are more likely to report any symptom (including classic symptoms like cough, fever, shortness of breath) than non-variant cases, although the loss of taste and smell was reported less often with the UK variant.
I've only excerpted section #4. So follow the link to read the full report.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey: characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 in England, 27 January 2021
Characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey. This survey is being delivered in partnership with University of Oxford, University of Manchester, Public Health England and Wellcome Trust.(SNIP)
(SNIP)
4. Symptoms profile by cases compatible with the new UK variant and other positive cases
About this analysis
Swabs are tested for three genes present in the coronavirus: N protein, S protein and ORF1ab. Each swab can have any one, any two or all three genes detected. Positives are those where one or more of these genes is detected in the swab other than tests that are only positive on the S-gene, which is not considered a reliable indicator of the virus if found on its own.
The new UK variant of COVID-19 has genetic changes in the S-gene. This means the S-gene is no longer detected in the current test, and cases that would have previously been positive on all three genes are now positive only on the ORF1ab and the N-gene (not the S-gene). More information on the new variant can be found in Section 10 in our latest bulletin.
The analysis in this section looks at each person who tests positive for COVID-19 who had a strong positive test. The strength of the test is determined by how quickly the virus is detected, measured by a cycle threshold (Ct) value. The lower the Ct value, the higher the viral load and stronger the positive test. Positive results with a high Ct value could be seen in the early stages of infection when virus levels are rising, or late in the infection, when the risk of transmission is low.
This analysis considers cases that had a Ct value less than 30, between 15 November 2020 and 16 January 2021, split by whether this is compatible with the new UK variant (positive only on two of the genes in the test, the N-gene and ORF1ab) or positive on all three genes (the N-gene, the S-gene and ORF1ab), and considers what percentage of these individuals reported symptoms. You can find more information on Ct values in a paper written by academic partners at the University of Oxford.
Individuals taking part in the survey were asked whether they had experienced a range of possible symptoms1 in the seven days before they were tested and also separately whether they felt that they had symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection in the last seven days.
In Figure 2 we have categorised reported symptoms into the following:People testing positive compatible with the new UK variant were more likely to report any symptoms and the classic symptoms, but were less likely to report loss of taste and smell. There was no evidence of difference in the percentages reporting gastrointestinal symptoms.
- any: all reported symptoms, including reporting symptoms compatible with COVID-19 whilst not naming specific symptoms
- classic: cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste or loss of smell
- gastrointestinal (GI): abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- loss of taste or smell only
Notes:
These results are provisional and subject to revision.
These statistics refer to infections reported in the community, by which we mean private households. These figures exclude infections reported in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.
Symptoms are self-reported and were not professionally diagnosed
This analysis covers the time period between 15 November 2020 to 16 January 2021.
Download the data .xlsx
Figure 3 indicates that loss of taste and loss of smell were significantly less common in new variant compatible positives than triple positives; whereas other symptoms were more common in new variant compatible positives, with the largest differences for cough, sore throat, fatigue, myalgia and fever. There is no evidence of difference in the gastrointestinal symptoms, shortness of breath or headaches.
Notes:
These results are provisional and subject to revision.
These statistics refer to infections reported in the community, by which we mean private households. These figures exclude infections reported in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.
Symptoms are self-reported and were not professionally diagnosed
This analysis covers the time period between 15 November 2020 to 16 January 2021.Download the data .xlsxAdditional analysis has been conducted on the estimated percentage of self-reported gastrointestinal symptoms over time in England and by CIS area, by our academic partners at the University of Oxford.Notes for: Symptoms profile by cases compatible with the new UK variant and cases positive on all three genes.The symptoms respondents were asked to report are: fever, muscle ache (myalgia), fatigue (weakness or tiredness), sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, headache, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, loss of taste or loss of smell.
