October 23, 2023, 12:18 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Runny nose, cough–cold symptoms are back in season in the fall. But what about COVID-19? During the worst times of the pandemic, case numbers were highest in the fall and winter. What is the current situation? And how have the symptoms changed over the past few years, or which ones should we pay more attention to now?
According to the pandemic radar of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), the seven-day incidence (as of October 23, 2023) is 15 COVID cases per 100,000 people. For comparison: At the peak of the pandemic in March 2022, it was 1,901 cases per 100,000 people, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) (FITBOOK reported). Thus, the incidence is currently still low. However, the BMG also recorded a 49 percent increase in doctor visits resulting in a COVID diagnosis compared to the previous week. Of those who visited a doctor for an acute respiratory illness, 113 had COVID. Last week, it was 76. The worst phases of the pandemic are behind us, which is why the RKI discontinued its own pandemic radar on June 1, 2023. Nevertheless, COVID-19 continues to play a role in the fall of 2023, and symptoms of the disease should still be monitored. But what exactly are they now? An overview.
Overview
Spread of Pirola (BA.2.86)
The current weekly report from the RKI on the activity of acute respiratory diseases (ARE) states that a rising trend for COVID-19 has been observed for weeks. In calendar week 41, RKI experts from the National Reference Center (NRZ) for Influenza Viruses identified respiratory viruses in 78 (54 percent) of the 144 samples submitted. These were mainly rhinoviruses (31 percent) and SARS-CoV-2 (20 percent), as shown in the ARE report from the RKI.
The RKI also has data on which coronavirus variants are currently prevalent in Germany. In calendar week 39, the EG.5 variant accounted for about 55 percent. The new variant, BA.2.86 (also known as Pirola), has also arrived in Germany. Since calendar week 34, this variant has been detected 16 times in various federal states in Germany.
New Variants–COVID Symptoms in Fall 2023
With EG.5 and BA.2.86, different variants of COVID-19 are circulating in fall 2023 compared to a year ago or at the start of the pandemic. Many are wondering if they should now be on the lookout for different symptoms to determine if they might have contracted COVID.
Unusual Symptoms That May Accompany Pirola
Recently, some unusual COVID symptoms have reportedly been associated with Pirola (FITBOOK reported):
- Skin rash
- Red and sore fingers or toes
- Diarrhea
- Hoarseness
- Itchy or red eyes
- Changes in the mouth or on the tongue (known as COVID tongue). This can include swelling in the mouth and sores on the tongue or the inside of the mouth and lips.
However, Pirola does not necessarily have to be accompanied by these unusual symptoms according to current knowledge. An infection with this coronavirus variant can also continue to manifest with symptoms typical of EG.5. Additionally, according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), fever, hoarseness, and a disturbance of the sense of smell are still present among COVID symptoms, regardless of the specific variant.
Symptoms Associated with EG.5
EG.5, also known as Eris, is a variant from the Omicron sublineage. Illnesses with this variant therefore manifest similarly to Omicron:
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Body aches
- Runny nose
- Fatigue (mild or severe)
- Sneezing
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How COVID Symptoms Have Changed Since 2020
In general, it cannot be said that certain symptoms have completely disappeared. How exactly a COVID illness manifests is not the same for all infected individuals, regardless of the underlying variant.
2020
Tentatively, it can be said that at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, the following symptoms–in this order–were predominant:
- Fever
- Cough
- Nausea/Vomiting
Just a few months later, the symptom list looked like this:
- Cough
- Fever
- Diarrhea
2022
With Omicron, more symptoms appeared, which were milder, and the symptomatology became more diffuse:
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Dry cough
- Headache
- Phlegmy cough
- Hoarse voice
- Shortness of breath
- Body aches
- Altered sense of smell
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva)
Also interesting: 9 New COVID Symptoms Added to Official List
2023
This year, the symptoms have mainly remained those typical of Omicron. Pirola seems to bring some previously unusual symptoms into play, but they are not mandatory. Looking at the COVID fall and winter of 2023, sore throat, runny nose, and cough continue to be the top symptoms to watch for.
Why Experts Remain Calm
When the new variant BA.2.86 first appeared in the summer, FITBOOK spoke with experts for an assessment. Prof. Dr. Carsten Watzl, an immunologist at the Leibniz Institute for Occupational Research at TU Dortmund, was not very concerned: “The focus is no longer on preventing infection but on preventing severe illness. And even though the new variants (EG.5, FL.1.5.1, and BA.2.86; A. d. R.) are more contagious, there is no evidence that they are more pathogenic. Therefore, most people are already well protected against severe illness due to their hybrid immunity–vaccination plus infection.”
Regarding the question of whether we should test for COVID more frequently again, the expert gave a relaxed answer: “Currently, it makes no difference whether you have COVID or the flu or are infected with other viruses. Therefore, testing is not necessary.” Prof. Dr. Martina Prelog from the University Hospital Würzburg had a similar view in late summer: “There is currently no indication for self-testing, and COVID should be handled like other respiratory pathogens. That means keeping distance, maintaining hygiene, and possibly wearing a mask to protect risk patients as contact persons.”