Introduction
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread across the globe, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified several common symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In addition, the CDC has identified other less common symptoms that may indicate a person has been infected with the virus. In this article, we will discuss the sure signs you may have COVID-19, according to the CDC. We will also provide tips on how to protect yourself and your family from the virus.
Sure Signs You May Have COVID, According to the CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified several signs and symptoms that may indicate a person has COVID-19. If you experience any of the following, it is important to contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation and testing.
Fever or Chills
A fever is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. It is defined as a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Chills, which are often accompanied by a fever, are also a common symptom of the virus.
Cough
A dry cough is a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually persistent and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as a sore throat or shortness of breath.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, chest pain, or fatigue.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, or muscle aches.
Muscle or Body Aches
Muscle or body aches are a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
Headache
Headache is a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
Loss of Taste or Smell
Loss of taste or smell is a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
Sore Throat
Sore throat is a common symptom of COVID-19. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation and testing. It is also important to practice social distancing, wear a face covering, and wash your hands often to help prevent the spread of the virus.
The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has brought many questions, and experts aren’t sure if it’s more transmissible or severe than previous iterations of the coronavirus. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, it’s a good reminder to continue best practices to avoid contracting the virus, and to be familiar with COVID symptoms so if you experience them, you can get tested and limit spread of the virus. These are the most common signs you might have COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
“People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported—ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness,” says the CDC. The agency notes that most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
“Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus,” says the CDC. “Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.”
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Some symptoms of COVID indicate a medical emergency. These include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- The new onset of confusion
- Inability to wake up or to stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds
If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.
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It’s too soon to tell if Omicron causes different symptoms than previous variants of COVID-19. But researchers at the COVID Symptom Study have been tracking the symptoms of new COVID cases, and they report that symptoms related to the Delta variant have changed somewhat compared to earlier iterations of the virus. They say these are now the most commonly reported early symptoms, if you’re vaccinated:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Loss of smell
If you haven’t been vaccinated, experts say your early symptoms are likely to be similar to earlier strains of COVID-19, including fever, a cough that may be severe, and body aches, along with runny nose, headache and sore throat.
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COVID has a pretty long list of potential symptoms, and many of them can be related to other issues. A runny nose and cough, for example, might be due to allergies, a cold or flu. How do you distinguish between COVID and something more minor? You really can’t, experts say. The best thing to do if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms is to get tested for COVID as soon as possible—even if you’ve been fully vaccinated—and to self-isolate until you know the results.
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Follow the fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated 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.