Written question WQ83438
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 10 days
Question
What steps have the Welsh Government taken to update the official COVID-19 symptoms list, following findings by the ZOE Covid study which concluded that the top five symptoms registered by vaccinated persons included a runny nose (77 per cent of contributors) and sneezing (67 per cent of contributors)?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
The Welsh Government is advised by the four UK Chief Medical Officers on this issue. Their advice remains that a high temperature; new, continuous cough; and loss of/change to sense of smell and/or taste are the cardinal symptoms common to all strains of Covid-19. The case definition was last discussed and agreed by the four UK CMOs on 5 August 2021, they concluded that these cardinal symptoms remain the most effective at predicting whether an individual has Covid-19 and as such, the case definition should remain unchanged.
The UK CMOs acknowledged that there were wider symptoms and agreed it should be easier for people to access a PCR test outside of the current case definition.
The UK Government has amended the online test booking system to allow people to order a PCR test if they have other symptoms and are concerned they might have Covid-19.
The Welsh Government recommends that people should call 111 or use the online symptom checker if they are in any doubt as to whether their symptoms are indicative of Covid-19.