Coronavirus symptoms: UK scientists reveal 6 types of Covid-19

Using data from tracking apps, scientists have listed six distinct types of the coronavirus and the severity

A military priest wearing a face mask blesses the repatriated remains of Filipino workers at Manila's international airport, Philippines. EPA

The National

Jul 20, 2020

British scientists analysing data from a widely-used Covid-19 symptom-tracking app have found there are six distinct types of the disease, each distinguished by a cluster of symptoms.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan applauds during a conference in Istanbul, Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Turkish lawmakers were making their final speeches Tuesday before voting on a bill that would give the government greater powers to regulate social media, in what human rights groups and the opposition have decried as a violation of free expression online. Hundreds of social media users have already been investigated and some arrested for their posts on the COVID-19 pandemic, opposition to Turkish military offensives in Syria or insulting Erdogan and other officials. (Turkish Presidency via AP, Pool)

Coronavirus latest updates

Coronavirus: Where we stand with lockdowns, a vaccine and the pandemic

The King's College London team found that the six types also correlated with levels of severity of infection and with the likelihood of a patient needing help with breathing - such as oxygen or ventilator treatment - if they are hospitalised.

The study, released online on June 16 but not peer-reviewed by independent scientists, described the six Covid-19 types as:

1. 'Flu-like' with no fever

Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.

2. 'Flu-like' with fever

Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.

Six months of Covid-19

3. Gastrointestinal

Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.

4. Severe level one, fatigue

Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.

5. Severe level two, confusion

Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.

6. Severe level three, abdominal and respiratory

Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, abdominal pain.