Introduction
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, it is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of the virus. Doctors on the frontlines of the pandemic have identified certain signs that can help you determine if you have COVID-19. In this article, we will discuss the sure signs that it’s COVID you have now, according to doctors on the frontlines. We will also provide tips on how to protect yourself and your family from the virus. By understanding the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, you can take the necessary steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Sure Signs It’s COVID You Have Now, Say Doctors on the Frontlines
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Doctors on the frontlines of the pandemic have identified certain signs that could indicate you have the virus.
Fever
One of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 is a fever. A fever is defined as a body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. If you have a fever, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
Cough
A dry cough is another common symptom of COVID-19. It’s important to note that not all coughs are caused by the virus. If you have a cough that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a fever, it could be a sign of COVID-19.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is another symptom of COVID-19. If you are having difficulty breathing, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. This is especially true if you are also experiencing other symptoms, such as a fever or cough.
Fatigue
Fatigue is another common symptom of COVID-19. If you are feeling unusually tired or exhausted, it could be a sign of the virus. It’s important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing fatigue along with other symptoms.
Loss of Taste or Smell
Loss of taste or smell is another symptom of COVID-19. If you are having difficulty tasting or smelling, it could be a sign of the virus. It’s important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing this symptom along with other symptoms.
Muscle Aches
Muscle aches are another symptom of COVID-19. If you are experiencing muscle aches, it could be a sign of the virus. It’s important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing this symptom along with other symptoms.
Headache
Headache is another symptom of COVID-19. If you are experiencing a headache, it could be a sign of the virus. It’s important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing this symptom along with other symptoms.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. Doctors on the frontlines of the pandemic are urging people to take the virus seriously and to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.
The BA.2.12.1 subvariant is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. and up to 27% more contagious than BA.2. Luckily, the surges don’t necessarily mean a rise in hospitalizations and severe disease. “Until we get to that steady state, we should expect that every subsequent wave is less severe than the one before it,” says Dr. Aaron Richterman, an infectious disease fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. “In general, we can expect that, over time, the overall burden of severe disease is going to go down.” Here are five signs you have COVID, according to experts. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
As the BA.2.12.1 subvariant continues to spread across the country, public health officials are warning if it feels like COVID, it probably is COVID. “[Cases are] up 27% from a week ago,” says Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady. “You can see our positivity is up to 6.2% and continuing to rise. So that’s why I’m guessing most of you know somebody who’s had COVID pretty recently, or even has it now. There’s a lot of COVID around.”
If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home. “Let’s say somebody is diagnosed with COVID and they are in a setting during a time that they might be infectious, we know that with COVID, for the first five days you need to be isolated because you can definitely be spreading COVID at that point,” says Dr. Arwady. Even if you test negative, some health officials recommend wearing a mask until you feel better.
Being infected by Omicron does not protect against new variants, doctors say, but a combination of past infection combined with vaccination could help. “Omicron by itself sweeping through the world is not going to induce a very robust immune status protective against other variants in the future if you are not vaccinated,” says Dr. Melanie Ott, an author and a senior investigator at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology at the University of California San Francisco. “The message is really get vaccinated even if you have been infected.”
Virus experts are noting that symptoms of BA.2.12.1 are not as severe as previous variants. “The nature of the disease has changed,” says Dr. Jonathan Dworkin, a clinical infectious diseases physician in Hawaii. “Two years ago I was seeing a steady flow of bad pneumonia cases. Now we are in a situation where people should be able to avoid that outcome by taking advantage of vaccines, pre-exposure prophylaxis (for high risk), and early antiviral therapy.”
Symptoms of BA.2.12.1 are once again mimicking those of a cold or flu—mainly fatigue and a runny nose, plus headaches, coughing, sneezing, and a sore throat, according to experts. “We’ve been seeing a lot more of sore throat and pharyngitis that we didn’t really see before,” says Nancy Crum, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Avita Health System in Galion, Ohio.
“Patients can also have gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, and loss of taste or loss of smell, although I’ve seen that a lot less with the newer variants.”
Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.
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