The UK is experiencing a rise in hay fever and Covid cases, with the Met Office reporting “very high” pollen counts and a new Covid variant named Nimbus contributing to an increase in hospital admissionsKatrina Chilver Digital Journalist/Assistant Digital Editor and Fiona Callingham Lifestyle writer
16:10, 17 Jun 2025
Symptoms can be similar(Image: Getty Images)
The UK is grappling with a simultaneous surge in hay fever symptoms and Covid cases, the Met Office issuing warnings of “very high” pollen counts troubling the masses. While there are shared symptoms between hay fever and Covid-19, such as sneezing, stuffy noses, headaches, and occasionally anosmia, the two conditions have very different origins – the former being an allergic reaction to particles like pollen and the latter a viral contagion.
Bupa’s Associate Clinical Director Dr Luke Powles comments: “Despite hay fever being more common during the spring and summer, some people are affected by pollen from March to September. This can make it harder to tell if sniffs and sneezes are being caused by an allergy or an infection such as coronavirus.”
The addition of a new Covid strain known as NB. 1.8.1, also dubbed Nimbus, is raising alarm as it has led to nearly a 10% uptick in Covid-linked hospitalisations, with data revealing 947 admissions in the week up to May 31st, according to the Mirror.
Health experts point out one distinct symptom to tell apart hay fever from coronavirus is the presence of a high fever – indicative of Covid but not of hay fever. The advice from the NHS highlights that a key sign is when “you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)” which may be accompanied by shivering, reports Essex Live.
Dr Powles has made it clear that a heightened temperature isn’t typically a symptom of hay fever. He explained: “Although a blocked nose due to hay fever can affect your smell or taste, completely losing your ability to taste or smell is more likely to result from coronavirus.”
Furthermore, Covid often results in a greater degree of malaise compared to hay fever. “Hay fever symptoms aren’t usually serious and, generally, you won’t feel too ill,” he stated.
In contrast, Covid has the potential to be quite severe and can present with symptoms that linger for an extended period, sometimes weeks, months, or even result in the long-term effects known as long Covid. The NHS highlights: “The symptoms [of Covid] are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.”
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Additionally, Covid may provoke gastrointestinal disturbances not typically linked with hay fever, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. For those who think they might have contracted Covid, the recommendation is to self-isolate and minimise contact with others if you display symptoms and either:
- Have a high temperature
- Do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or carry out your normal activities.
Typical hay fever symptoms consist of:
- Sneezing and coughing
- A runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, red or watery eyes
- Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- Loss of smell
- Pain around your temples and forehead
- Headache
- Fatigue
On the other hand, Covid symptoms may include:
- A high temperature or experiencing chills – this implies feeling hot to the touch on your chest or back (there’s no need to take your temperature)
- A new, persistent cough – this refers to coughing excessively for over an hour, or having three or more bouts of coughing within 24 hours
- A loss or alteration in your sense of smell or taste
- Breathlessness
- Feeling fatigued or worn out
- Bodily aches
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A congested or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling nauseous or vomiting