Doctors don't know which virus you have

MANY people are complaining of coughs, colds, feeling sick and achy right now as the winter sets in.

- HELENA VESTY

The NHS is warning against a 'tripledemic' of viruses this winter, including Covid, flu and RSV.

Dr Helen Wall, who is the clinical director of population health in Greater Manchester, and led the rollout of the vaccine in Bolton during the pandemic, explained exactly what she's seeing in her practice right now.

"We're seeing a lot of respiratory infections as we do during October in any year. People are indoors, there are more gatherings in smaller spaces, closed windows, heating on it's the right time for infections to spread," said Dr Wall.#

"We're seeing a lot of people feeling generally unwell right now. Coughing, achey, feverish.

"It's easy to feel more unwell when the weather is bad. People are in hibernation-mode.

"As doctors, we don't know how to tell a lot of time.

"There are some who say this Covid variant might be more severe - but actually, how do we know?

"The only people being tested are in hospital, and they're going to be the most sick.

"We've probably got a lot of Covid in the community circulating. People might come into my GP practice and they're mildly unwell, and they don't know they've got it.