As COVID-19 cases surge across India, driven by the JN.1 COVID-19 variant, the country witnesses a 22 percent increase in cases during the last week of 2023. The variant is now associated with two additional symptoms, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics—trouble sleeping and anxiety. These newly reported symptoms join the list of previously known COVID-19 indicators, such as runny noses, coughs, headaches, weakness, and fatigue.
The Winter Coronavirus Infection Study’s recent update highlights a rise in SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in England and Scotland leading up to December 13, 2023. The most common symptoms associated with the JN.1 COVID variant include a runny nose (31.1%), cough (22.9%), headache (20.1%), fatigue (19.6%), muscle pain (15.8%), sore throat (13.2%), trouble sleeping (10.8%), and anxiety (10.5%).
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has previously cautioned about the JN.1 variant’s prominence in the UK, as well as its spread in the US, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain. Experts also note the rapid spread of the variant in France, China, and India.
The updated list of symptoms linked to the JN.1 COVID variant includes:
1. Runny nose
2. Cough
3. Headache
4. Weakness or tiredness
5. Muscle ache
6. Sore throat
7. Trouble sleeping
8. Worry or anxiety