Delta

The Delta variant was first discovered in late 2020 in India. Until the discovery of the new variant it accounted for more than 99% of cases and caused an overwhelming number of hospitalisations.

A study by ZOE showed that Delta caused symptoms of runny nose, headache, sore throat, sneezing and feeling fatigued. This was a difference to the COVID-19 strain's classical symptoms of fever, continuous cough and loss of sense of smell or taste. People who are not vaccinated are still at most risk.

So it’s important to follow safety measures to keep you and your loved ones safe – depending on government guidance, this might be wearing a mask, washing hands, keeping your distance, and isolating if you’ve had close contact with COVID or tested positive. They emphasise that receiving vaccinations and the booster are the best thing you can do to protect yourself from any current strain of COVID-19.

If you have coronavirus, there is no way to find out which variant you have, and it doesn’t change the need to isolate for a set period.

There are two tests available for COVID – the lateral flow test, which is done at home and gives a result a few minutes later, or the PCR test, which you need to book at a local test site or order from the government website then send off, and results can take one to two days.

The government suggests that if you have symptoms consistent with COVID, you should get a PCR test done and isolate if positive.

For those without symptoms, the lateral flow test is very accurate and if positive, you should isolate. The government have said there is no longer a need to get a PCR test to confirm, but you can if you wish.