People testing positive for the new UK variant of the coronavirus are more likely to report coughing, sore throat or fatigue as symptoms of COVID-19, but are less likely to experience anosmia, a British survey has found.

The variant, identified in southeast England in December, is thought to be more transmissible, and could also be associated with higher mortality, though data suggesting increased death rates are uncertain and not yet strong.

Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that other differences had been observed between those with the variant from the UK and others with COVID-19.

“Loss of taste and loss of smell were significantly less common in new variant compatible positives than triple positives,” the ONS said in an analysis of the characteristics of people in England with COVID-19, covering the period between 15 November to 16 January.