Weird COVID Symptoms: What You Didn't Know About the Virus in 2025

When people talk about weird COVID symptoms, unusual or unexpected health reactions linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection that go beyond the classic cough and fever. Also known as atypical COVID manifestations, these signs are now more common than ever in London, even among people who had mild or no initial infection. It’s not just about feeling tired. It’s about waking up with a racing heart for no reason, getting sudden rashes on your toes, or forgetting where you put your keys — again — and not being able to shake it for weeks.

Back in 2020, everyone knew the big three: fever, cough, loss of taste. But now? The XEC variant, a newly dominant Omicron subvariant spreading rapidly in Greater London with distinct symptom patterns is changing the game. It doesn’t always hit with a high temperature. Instead, it brings on post-viral fatigue, a persistent, deep exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest and often follows even minor infections — so bad some people can’t stand for more than ten minutes. Others report brain fog so thick they can’t follow a TV show or remember a friend’s name. And then there’s the skin stuff: purple toes, itchy patches that come and go, rashes that look like chickenpox but aren’t. These aren’t rare. They’re showing up in clinics across Croydon, Hackney, and Brixton every week.

And it’s not just the new variants. The long COVID, a collection of lingering symptoms that persist for months or years after the initial infection crowd is growing. People who got infected two years ago are still dealing with it. Some can’t climb stairs without gasping. Others have random muscle spasms or feel like their brain is underwater. Doctors in London are seeing more of this than ever — and they’re not sure why. The NHS doesn’t have a clear protocol yet, and most GPs still treat it like it’s all in your head. But the data says otherwise. A recent study from King’s College found that nearly 1 in 10 Londoners who had COVID still have at least one weird symptom after 18 months.

What makes this worse is that these symptoms don’t show up on standard tests. No fever, no positive swab, no clear label. So people are told they’re fine — while they’re struggling to work, care for kids, or even walk to the shop. The truth? We’re still learning. The virus doesn’t play by old rules anymore. It’s quieter. It’s sneakier. And it’s still here.

Below, you’ll find real stories and updated facts about what’s actually happening in London right now — from the latest variant pushing through the Tube to the quiet, unexplained symptoms no one talks about but everyone’s feeling. These aren’t theories. They’re what people are living through.