Coronavirus symptoms (covid-19)

Severe cases

Data on the prevalence of severe symptoms are hard to interpret because testing in the United States remains limited. Most people only seek medical care if they have severe symptoms, and some may not notice any symptoms at all.

Symptoms of severe cases typically include:

• high fever above 103℉ (39.4℃)
• difficulty breathing
• blue lips or face
• persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• new-onset confusion (“altered mental status”)
• trouble waking up, even when another person tries to wake them

On average, people who develop severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, do so within 8 days of other symptoms first appearing.

People with preexisting medical conditions may notice that their symptoms get worse.

A viewpoint article in JAMA in March 2020 indicated that 12% of all people with a COVID-19 diagnosis in Italy needed treatment in intensive care units. These figures are, of course, constantly changing.

What should you do if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19?

If you think that you have symptoms of COVID-19, here’s what to do:

• Monitor your symptoms. Not everyone with COVID-19 requires hospitalization. However, keeping track of your symptoms is important since they may worsen in the second week of illness.
• Contact your doctor. Even if your symptoms are mild, it’s still a good idea to call your doctor to let them know about your symptoms and any potential exposure risks.
• Get tested. Your doctor can work with local health authorities and the CDC to evaluate your symptoms and risk of exposure to determine whether you need to be tested for COVID-19.
• Stay isolated. Plan to isolate yourself at home until your infection has cleared. Try to stay separated from other people in your home. Use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
• Seek care. If your symptoms worsen, seek prompt medical care. Be sure to call ahead before you arrive at a clinic or hospital. Wear a face mask, if available.

What are the early symptoms in children?

Symptoms of COVID-19 in children and young adults are more likely to be mild.

Early symptoms of coronavirus infection in children are similar to those in adults.

According to the CDC, early symptoms in children with a coronavirus infection occur in the following percentages:

Symptom	Prevalence (%)
Fever	56
Dry cough	54
Shortness of breath	13

Fever and cough appear to be the symptoms of COVID-19 that people report in children.

Children may also develop additional symptoms, such as:

• blocked nose
• muscle pain
• runny nose
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain

Children with COVID-19 are likely to recover in with no additional issues.

Parents and carers with children who are showing signs of a coronavirus infection should contact their health service provider and keep the child at home.

The child should also stay away from other people, especially those at higher risk of developing severe illness from coronavirus.

What to do about early symptoms

If a person notices that they or a child has symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, they should:

• self-isolate at home, keeping separate from others in the property
• stay indoors, unless seeking medical aid
• get plenty of rest
• stay hydrated with plenty of liquids
• take over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medicine to soothe symptoms
• monitor symptoms and phone the doctor if necessary
• wear a face mask when around other individuals
• follow local health department guidelines
• cover their mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• wash hands regularly and thoroughly
• avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• keep separate glasses, cups, dishes, eating utensils, towels, and bedding if sharing a house with others
• clean and disinfect surfaces, such as doorknobs, counters, remote controls, phones, keyboards, bathroom surfaces, or tables frequently

People who have symptoms of coronavirus infection should continue to self-isolate and follow these guidelines for 14 days, even if they begin to feel healthy.

Critical cases

Figures from China in February indicated that 5% of more than 72,000 people with COVID-19 had received a classification of being in a “critical condition.”

However, it is difficult to assess the accuracy of these figures since many people with COVID-19 may not seek care, and some have no symptoms at all.

It is also important to note that these numbers continue to change as the coronavirus outbreak spreads.

In addition to the severe symptoms described above, people who develop severe life threatening COVID-19 symptoms are likely to experience:

• weak pulse
• cold hands or feet
• requiring medical treatment to maintain organ function and life

Critical cases of COVID-19 may also lead to:

• Sepsis: Sepsis is a type of systemic infection that occurs when the body’s immune response overreacts to pathogens, causing potentially life threatening damage.
• Respiratory failure: This condition occurs when damage to the lungs is so severe that they cannot function without assistance.
• Organ failure: This life threatening situation occurs when one or more organs stop working properly.

In China, 49% of critical cases have led to death, as a February article in JAMA reported.

Certain medical conditions increase the risk of death or developing critical symptoms of COVID-19. These include:

• heart disease
• diabetes
• chronic respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• cancer

According to a viewpoint article in JAMA, figures recorded at the end of February in China indicated that symptoms tend to be more severe in older populations. The Chinese fatality rate in people over 70 years of age was 8%, while the death for those over 80 years of age was 14.8%.

Extended exposure to the virus may also increase the severity of symptoms. In China, several otherwise healthy healthcare workers died. Overall, 14.8% of healthcare workers who contracted SARS-CoV-2 received a classification of severe or critical.

Asymptomatic or unknown

Some people who have COVID-19 are asymptomatic. This means that they do not have any known symptoms of COVID-19 or associated symptoms, such as sneezing.

A person who is asymptomatic might pass on the virus to others without even realizing it.

Anyone who has tested positive but is asymptomatic should continue social distancing. They should wear a cloth face mask in public spaces where it is difficult to adhere to social distancing rules.

Anyone who has had contact with someone who has tested positive, whether showing symptoms or not, should also follow these rules. They may also have COVID-19 without realizing it.

What are the risk factors?

You’re at an increased risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 if you’ve been:

• living or traveling in an area where COVID-19 is widespread or community transmission is occurring
• in close contact with someone who has a confirmed infection

The CDC states that older adults, or those 65 years of age and above, are most at risk of severe illness, as are people with the following chronic health conditions:

• serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• kidney disease
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• obesity, which occurs in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher
• sickle cell disease
• a weakened immune system from a solid organ transplant
• type 2 diabetes

How is COVID-19 different to the flu?

As the above infographic shows, while COVID-19 and influenza can both cause respiratory symptoms, there are key differences.

According to the Government’s healthdirect website, influenza often includes muscle pains and headache, while these symptoms are less common in COVID-19.

Another difference between the two diseases is the kind of person affected. So far, severe COVID-19 has mainly affected older age groups and people with chronic illnesses.

To date, healthy people and children — who can become very sick from flu — haven’t been significantly affected by COVID-19.

The peak body for obstetricians and gynaecologists has advised that pregnant women don’t seem to be at increased risk of the new coronavirus so far — but it’s hard to tell this early in the outbreak.

Health authorities have also warned younger adults shouldn’t be complacent about their risk from coronavirus, since it’s not impossible for them to have a severe form of the disease.

Mild-to-moderate symptoms

Share on PinterestPeople with COVID-19 may experience a fever.

The difference between mild and moderate symptoms is a matter of degree, and the treatment is more or less the same.

The most common symptoms of mild-to-moderate cases are:

• A fever: The majority of people with COVID-19 experience a fever. A study in The Lancet in January 2020 noted that 98% of people with a COVID-19 diagnosis had a fever. In mild-to-moderate cases, people will typically experience a fever up to 103℉ (39.4℃).
• Fatigue: Some people might have less energy or need more sleep.
• A cough: The cough tends to be dry, but it may not always be.

Other less common symptoms include:

• sore throat
• headache
• nasal congestion
• malaise
• muscle aches
• gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
• lack of appetite

Most research on COVID-19 has focused on people who have sought treatment for the disease. The existing data, therefore, have a bias toward people with more severe symptoms.

While viruses such as the flu often hit babies and young children very hard, most research around COVID-19 suggests that young people are likely to experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

While early reports on COVID-19 focused primarily on respiratory symptoms, new research featuring in the American Journal of Gastroenterology indicates that 50.5% of people with COVID-19 experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea.

According to ENT UK, some people also report changes in their sense of smell or taste, often before other symptoms appear. Doctors do not understand what causes this, but other viruses can also attack the sense of smell, sometimes permanently.

Treatment

People with mild-to-moderate symptoms of COVID-19 should do the following:

• Stay home and away from others as much as possible.
• Wear a cloth mask.
• Monitor symptoms.
• Contact a doctor or healthcare provider by phone or the internet to determine whether symptoms require medical attention.
• Self-treat by following a healthcare professional’s recommendations.
• Seek emergency medical treatment if symptoms develop to become severe.

How do COVID-19 symptoms differ from flu symptoms?

You may have heard COVID-19 being compared to the flu, a common seasonal respiratory illness. How can you tell the difference between the symptoms of these two infections?

First off, the symptoms of the flu often come on suddenly, while COVID-19 symptoms appear to develop more gradually.

Common symptoms of the flu include:

• fever
• chills
• cough
• fatigue
• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• headache
• body aches and pains
• vomiting or diarrhea

As you can see, there’s a lot of overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and the flu. However, it’s important to note that many common symptoms of the flu are observed less often in cases of COVID-19.

The WHO also notes the following differences between the two:

• The flu has a shorter incubation period than that of COVID-19.
• Transmitting the virus before developing symptoms drives many influenza infections but doesn’t appear to play as much of a role for COVID-19.
• The percentage of people who develop serious symptoms or complications appears higher for COVID-19 than for the flu.
• COVID-19 appears to affect children with less frequency than the flu does.
• There’s currently no vaccine or antivirals available for COVID-19. However, interventions are available for the flu.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Share on PinterestDesign by Ruth Basagoitia

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the median incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 is 4 to 5 days. However, it can range anywhere from 2 to 14 days.

Not everyone with a SARS-CoV-2 infection will feel unwell. It’s possible to have the virus and not develop symptoms. When symptoms are present, they’re typically mild and develop slowly.

The most common symptoms are:

• fever
• cough
• fatigue
• shortness of breath

Some people with COVID-19 may sometimes experience additional symptoms, such as:

• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• headache
• muscle aches and pains
• diarrhea
• chills
• repeated shaking to go along with the chills
• loss of taste or smell

Some observations suggest that respiratory symptoms may worsen in the second week of illness. This appears to occur after around 8 days.

COVID-19

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started monitoring the outbreak of a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. They first identified the virus in Wuhan, China.

Since then, the virus has spread to nearly every country, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic.

The new coronavirus has been responsible for tens of millions of infections globally, causing over a million deaths. The United States has seen the highest number of these infections and deaths.

The first people with COVID-19 had links to a live animal and seafood market. This suggests that animals initially transmitted the virus to humans. Then, people with no connections to the market developed the disease, confirming that the virus can pass from person to person.

Most people who develop COVID-19 have a relatively mild form of the disease. According to the WHO, around 80% of people who get COVID-19 recover without needing to be admitted to a hospital.

The remaining 20% become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing.

Some groups have a higher risk of severe disease and death, including older adults and people with underlying medical conditions, including high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, and cancer.

The mortality rate varies from country to country. In the U.S., the death rate is around 2.8%.

According to the CDC, most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or none at all. Fewer children have developed COVID-19 than adults. That said, infants and children with certain medical conditions may have an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.

Also, the available evidence suggests that pregnant people may have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. They may also have an increased risk of problems such as preterm birth, though it is unclear whether this is related to the virus itself.

Symptoms of COVID-19

According to the CDC, people may start to experience COVID-19 symptoms 2–14 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms may include:

• a fever
• chills
• a cough
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• a sore throat
• congestion or a runny nose
• fatigue
• a headache
• muscle pain
• a new loss of taste or smell
• nausea, vomiting, or both
• diarrhea

No vaccine is currently available for COVID-19, although several are in development. Tests can detect the infection early on, even if a person is not experiencing symptoms.

According to the , the following groups have a higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19:

• older adults
• people of any age with underlying health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity
• pregnant people

Systemic inequalities in healthcare have placed many people of marginalized racial and ethnic groups at a higher risk of sickness and death from COVID-19. Read more here.

How to care for someone with early symptoms

If a person is caring for someone with early symptoms of coronavirus infection, they should ensure they follow guidelines to protect themselves and the care receiver.

These can include:

• helping the care receiver follow any instructions from a doctor
• keeping them hydrated
• helping with groceries, prescriptions, and other requirements
• caring for any pets
• providing the care receiver with OTC medications when appropriate
• monitoring their symptoms and looking for signs that they may need more medical help
• washing cloth face masks after use
• monitoring their own health for coronavirus symptoms
• wearing disposable gloves when washing the care receiver’s dirty laundry
• cleaning and disinfecting surfaces daily
• using a separate bedroom and bathroom from the care receiver
• ensuring good air ventilation to reduce chances of getting the virus

The person giving care should make sure they limit contact, as much as possible, with the individual they are caring for.

The carer should wear a face mask when near the sick person, and gloves if they come into contact with their blood, stool, or bodily fluids.

If the care receiver is trouble breathing easily, they should also always wear a face mask when the carer is nearby.

Frequently washing hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water is critical for the carer.

Despite symptoms, it’s not the flu

COVID-19 is not the flu.

As one of a class of pathogens known as coronaviruses, it’s actually more closely related to the common cold than the seasonal flu.

However, despite some overlap, the typical symptoms of COVID-19 are more similar to the flu (fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue) than the common cold (runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches, mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, malaise).

“In terms of differentiating between flu and COVID-19, it can be almost impossible to distinguish,” Dr. Jake Deutsch, co-founder and clinical director of Cure Urgent Care centers and Specialty Infusion in New York. “That’s why people are recommended to have flu vaccinations so it can at least… minimize the risk of flu in light of everything else. Fevers, body aches, coughing, sneezing could all be equally attributed to them both, so it really means that if there’s a concern for flu, there’s a concern for COVID-19.”

If you have a mild case of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, treatment is geared toward management of symptoms, said Cutler.

“Generally, acetaminophen is recommended for fevers,” he said. “Cough drops and cough syrups can also help keep mucus secretions thinner. If there is associated nasal congestion, antihistamines may be useful.”

Share on PinterestDesign by Ruth Basagoitia

Caring for Someone Who Has COVID-19 Symptoms

If you’re taking care of someone who’s sick, follow these steps to protect yourself:

• Limit your contact as much as you can. Stay in separate rooms. If you have to be in the same room, use a fan or an open window to improve air flow.
• Ask the person who’s sick to wear a cloth face mask when you’re around each other. You should wear one, too.
• Don’t share items like electronics, bedding, or dishes.
• Use gloves when handling the other person’s dishes, laundry, or trash. When you’re done, throw away the gloves and wash your hands.
• Regularly clean and disinfect common surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and countertops.
• Take care of yourself. Get enough rest and nutrition. Watch for COVID-19 symptoms.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in kids

A multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has also been associated with the novel coronavirus, . This syndrome is a condition in which parts of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs become inflamed. It’s not yet clear what causes MIS-C, but children diagnosed with the condition often had COVID-19 or had been around someone who had COVID-19, according to the CDC.  Several cases of MIS have also been reported in adults, Live Science previously reported.

Doctors first spotted the inflammatory syndrome on April 26 in the United Kingdom, when doctors began to notice an increasing number of kids coming in with severe symptoms that seemed to resemble Kawasaki disease, a rare childhood disease that causes inflammation of blood vessels and can lead to heart damage. Some of the symptoms also overlapped with those of toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening illness caused by toxins released by certain bacteria.

There’s still much unknown about this new illness; symptoms are still being documented and could vary from child to child, according to Boston Children’s Hospital. Parents should mainly watch out for a persistent fever that lasts for more than 24 hours and is typically present for a couple of days, whether the child appears fatigued and ill, or if the child has a loss of appetite or is not drinking enough fluids, .

Other symptoms that could indicate MIS-C include gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, swollen abdomen, vomiting and/or diarrhea; skin rashes (often reddish in color); neck pain; bloodshot eyes or swollen eyes; unusually red of strawberry-like tongue; swollen hands and feet; swollen lymph nodes; red, cracked lips; persistent cough and shortness of breath; low blood pressure; and a very high heart rate, and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Coronavirus science news

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—Coronavirus: Live updates—How deadly is the new coronavirus?—How long does virus last on surfaces?—Is there a cure for COVID-19?—How does it compare with seasonal flu?

These are not mild symptoms, so parents will likely notice them, in May. For instance, the abdominal pain is not just a little bellyache but «severe enough for the parent to be worried,» Dr. George Ofori-Amanfo, division chief of pediatric critical care medicine at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in New York, told the Times. And the rashes, the Times reported, tend to be red, cover a large area, and usually appear on the hands, forearms and chest, turning white when you press on them, according to the Times. 

If your child has a persistent fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius), call your pediatrician. 

Treatment includes supportive care to reduce symptoms, including steroids for inflammation, fever reducers and other medications, the Times reported. Children may also be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a cocktail of various antibodies that serves as an anti-inflammatory treatment, Live Science reported. 

There have now been 1,163 reported cases of MIS-C across the U.S. and 20 associated deaths, .

Originally published on Live Science.

What can you do to protect yourself from the new coronavirus?

The CDC recommends that all people wear cloth face masks in public places where it’s difficult to maintain a 6-foot distance from others.

This will help slow the spread of the virus from people without symptoms or people who don’t know they have contracted the virus.

Cloth face masks should be worn while continuing to practice physical distancing. Instructions for making masks at home can be found here.

Note: It’s critical to reserve surgical masks and N95 respirators for healthcare workers.

Follow the tips below to help protect yourself and others from a SARS-CoV-2 infection:

• Wash your hands. Be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water. If this isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid touching your face. Touching your face or mouth if you haven’t washed your hands can transfer the virus to these areas and potentially make you sick.
• Maintain distance. Avoid close contact with people who are ill. If you’re around someone who is coughing or sneezing, try to stay at least 6 feet away.
• Don’t share personal items. Sharing items like eating utensils and drinking glasses can potentially spread the virus.
• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Try to cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue. Be sure to promptly dispose of any used tissues.
• Stay home if you’re sick. If you’re already ill, plan to stay at home until you recover.
• Clean surfaces. Use household cleaning sprays or wipes to clean high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, keyboards, and countertops.
• Keep yourself informed. The CDC continually updates information as it becomes available, and the WHO publishes daily situation reports.

Is It COVID-19, the Flu, a Cold, or Allergies?

Since they share so many symptoms, it can be hard to know which condition you have. But there are a few guidelines that can help.

You may have COVID-19 if you have a fever and trouble breathing, along with the symptoms listed above.

If you don’t have problems breathing, it might be the flu. You should still isolate yourself just in case.

It’s probably allergies if you don’t have a fever but your eyes are itchy, you’re sneezing, and you have a runny nose.

If you don’t have a fever and your eyes aren’t itchy, it’s probably a cold.

Call your doctor if you’re concerned about any symptoms. COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, so it may be hard to diagnose. Testing could be available in your area.

‘Chronic COVID’

«Research studies are only just starting to emerge on documentation of different manifestations of ‘Chronic COVID’ or ‘Long-COVID’,» said Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London.

«The terribly diverse manifestations may have quite diverse mechanisms,» Altmann added, meaning it could be that even people with mild symptoms have lasting tissue damage or an immune reaction that is ongoing almost as a syndrome.

«What we do know is that there are a certain number of people who contract the virus sometimes with severe forms, sometimes with less severe forms and who have symptoms for weeks,» France’s health minister Olivier Véran said in a television interview.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News on Wednesday that he was «concerned there’s increasing evidence a minority of people — but a significant minority — have long-term impacts and it can be quite debilitating.»

He added that the government has invested almost £10m (11.03 million euros) into research regarding long-term effects.

Véran said that there was research ongoing looking at whether a lasting «inflammatory phase» of the virus could explain these symptoms, but explained that they were looking at ways to help these patients.

But at the moment, they don’t have many answers.

Claudia UcedaCourtesy of Claudia Uceda

Claudia Uceda, a 24-year-old translator based in Paris, has been to Accident and Emergency (A&E) with several asthma attacks since recovering from coronavirus.

She started having trouble breathing in March but was not admitted to hospital even when her entire family came down with the virus.

A doctor did not check her lungs until after France’s lockdown in May, finding lesions consistent with pneumonia and reduced lung capacity.

«It was hard to prove that I was really sick. So not only did I feel bad, but I was sort of isolated,» she told Euronews. In France, many of the people who say they still have symptoms of coronavirus first came down with the disease at the height of the epidemic and were therefore unable to get a test.

Nathalie Nury says she first came down with fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue on March 24.

The 51-year-old visual arts teacher in Nîmes and says her son and his girlfriend had recently come back from Paris and they had lost their sense of smell and taste.

Her symptoms lasted ten days but she wasn’t tested because tests were reserved for hospitalised coronavirus patients and health workers.

Throughout April, she said she still felt tired but it wasn’t until the start of May that she came down with a fever and chest pain again.

For months, she has suffered cycles of renewed symptoms from intense chest pain to vertigo.

«I was totally lost. My loved ones did not understand,» Nury said. She’s seen multiple doctors, some of whom did not take her symptoms seriously.

Nathalie NuryNathalie Nury

She has now taken to social media. In France, a hashtag translating to «after day 20» or «after day 100» is helping those who say they still suffer to find support for a condition she finds difficult and isolating. The support network «showed me that I wasn’t an isolated case and that other people had similar symptoms.»

«I think this is one of the very hard aspects: many of the people who feel long-term unwell have never had a PCR test and never been hospitalised. So some doctors may feel they’re just anxious,» said Altmann at Imperial College London.

«Even if people had clear symptoms, some doctors may comment ‘for any serious infection you may take a while to recover’.»

«However, there are many infections that leave behind specific disease profiles that can be chronic. For a proportion of COVID-19 patients, that seems likely,» he added, explaining that several studies are underway to look at these patient profiles.

Cases can be life threatening

Where to get help

You don’t need to leave home to seek medical attention unless you have severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties. In this case you should call triple-0 for urgent medical help.

Otherwise, you can call the National Coronavirus Helpline for further information on 1800 020 080. It’s operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

The Federal Government also has a Coronavirus Australia app (Apple App Store, Google Play) and a dedicated WhatsApp channel providing up-to-date information.

You can now access bulk-billed telehealth consultations with a GP and other health professionals, provided you’re in Australia, eligible for Medicare and not already in hospital.

In most cases it’s still possible to visit your local GP for a face-to-face consultation, but you need to call ahead to make an appointment and let them know you think you have COVID-19 symptoms so they can prepare for your arrival.

The Federal Government is also establishing up to 100 GP respiratory clinics to assess people across the country.

Transmission

The CDC recommend that people wear cloth face masks in public places where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing. This will help slow the spread of the virus from people who do not know that they have contracted it, including those who are asymptomatic. People should wear cloth face masks while continuing to practice physical distancing. Instructions for making masks at home are available here. Note: It is critical that surgical masks and N95 respirators are reserved for healthcare workers.

Researchers believe that the viruses transmit via fluids in the respiratory system, such as mucus.

For example, a coronavirus can spread when a person:

• coughs or sneezes without covering their mouth, dispersing droplets into the air
• has physical contact with someone who has the infection
• touches a surface that contains the virus, then touches their nose, eyes, or mouth

Also, while some animal coronaviruses may spread to humans through contact with feces, it is unclear whether human coronaviruses can spread in the same way.

Coronaviruses infect most people at some point.

To prevent transmission, people with symptoms should stay at home, rest, and avoid coming into close contact with others.

Covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief while coughing or sneezing can also help prevent transmission. It is important to dispose of used tissues right away and maintain high levels of hygiene, especially around the home.

How is it transmitted?

Coronavirus typically spreads via small water droplets that a person with the virus produces when they talk, cough, or sneeze. When another person inhales these droplets, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter the body.

Droplets in the air can also land on surfaces and objects. People who touch these contaminated surfaces are at risk of infection if they then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth before washing their hands.

Some people may transmit the virus despite being asymptomatic. However, researchers do not know how often this may happen.

People should follow the guidelines put in place by their local health organizations to ensure they keep themselves and others safe.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

You can check your symptoms using the healthdirect Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (any temperature over 38C) and a cough.

Some people also report a sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, aches and pains, headaches, and a runny or stuffy nose.

Symptoms can range from a mild illness to pneumonia.

Some people have relatively few symptoms if any, or display no symptoms when they first contract the virus.

Suddenly losing your sense of smell can be a symptom of COVID-19, or a sign that you’ve got a severe cold or very bad allergies.

And that’s one of the confusing things about this coronavirus, its symptoms can be similar to what you would expect from other conditions.

COVID-19 symptoms can be similar to cold or flu.(Department of Health)

The bottom line

is a respiratory illness that develops from an infection with the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The main symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fatigue, fever, and shortness of breath.

Since COVID-19 can become serious, it’s important to recognize how its symptoms differ from other conditions. You can do this by carefully considering your symptoms, their development, and your risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

If you think that you have COVID-19, call your doctor. They can help determine whether you need to be tested. Plan to stay at home until you’ve recovered, but always seek emergency treatment if your symptoms begin to worsen.

On April 21, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the first COVID-19 home testing kit. Using the cotton swab provided, people will be able to collect a nasal sample and mail it to a designated laboratory for testing.

The emergency-use authorization specifies that the test kit is authorized for use by people whom healthcare professionals have identified as having suspected COVID-19.

There are currently no vaccines or antivirals available for COVID-19. However, simple measures can help protect you and others. These include things like frequent handwashing, not touching your face, and staying home when sick.

SARS

SARS is a contagious disease that develops from an infection with the SARS-CoV coronavirus. In many cases, it leads to a life threatening form of pneumonia.

The first reports of SARS came from Asia in February 2003. The virus then spread to more than two dozen countries.

Experts no longer consider SARS a risk. The last reported human cases of SARS occurred in China in in a laboratory-related outbreak.

SARS-CoV affects both the upper and lower respiratory tract.

The symptoms of SARS develop over 1 week and start with a fever. Early on, people develop flu-like symptoms, such as:

• a dry cough
• chills
• diarrhea
• breathlessness
• aches

Pneumonia, a severe lung infection, usually develops. At its most advanced stage, SARS causes failure of the lungs, heart, or liver.

The CDC reports that 8,098 people contracted SARS during the outbreak. Among them, 774 died of the disease. Authorities eventually controlled SARS in July 2003.

Complications were more common among older adults. According to one source, more than half of those who died from the disease were over the age of 65.