South africa variant symptoms: the common warning sign

The UK government is facing growing pressure to crack down on border controls to stop more cases of the South Africa strain from entering the UK. The variant, known as B.1.351, has already

been discovered in a small number of people in the UK. While there is no evidence to suggest the South Africa strain is more deadly than other mutations, fears that it could elude the

vaccines are raising the temperature. The research suggests that Covid cases in elderly people, the most at risk group, might be missed as fever temperatures in older people are often lower

than the 37.8°C threshold. What's more, the paper shows that temperature regulation also changes with age and body mass, with older and thinner people usually having a slightly lower

temperature and finding it harder to stay warm. To find out more about the relationship between temperature and age, the researchers analysed data from four different groups: 1,089 adult

twins without COVID-19, 1,284 people hospitalised with COVID-19 in London (520) and Birmingham (764), 3,967 users of the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app with confirmed COVID-19. Based on their

analysis, the researchers found that using a threshold of 37.4°C for over 65s is as sensitive and specific a sign of infection as 37.8°C in adults under 65. If you have any of the main

symptoms of coronavirus, get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. You and anyone you live with should stay at home and not have visitors until you get your test

result – only leave your home to have a test. Anyone in your support bubble should also stay at home if you have been in close contact with them since your symptoms started or during the 48

hours before they started. A support bubble is where someone who lives alone (or just with their children) can meet people from one other household.