Have you lost your sense of smell? Convinced that your sore throat is something more than seasonal allergies? Do you think you or someone you know may have contracted Covid-19, the disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus? Stay calm. Here's our guide on what to do next.
Need more info on what's going on with regards to the disease? Be sure to check out our full coverage of all things Covid-19, especially our Coronavirus FAQ. Go to the CDC's website to learn any new information coming from the Centers for Disease Control.
Updated July 31: We've added the CDC's updated guidance on symptoms, as well as new details on when to stop self-isolation and who should get certain Covid-19 tests. The CDC has recently added nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to the list of symptoms, while the World Health Organization has listed these as possible symptoms for the past couple of months.
The first thing you should do is be sure your symptoms match what we know about Covid-19. Many of these symptoms are commonly associated with seasonal colds and the regular flu. Although we're in between flu seasons right now, that doesn't rule out your symptoms being the common cold or influenza. There are also plenty of high-pollen days at the end of summer, so you could be having problems with allergies.
While many who are infected may exhibit few to no symptoms (especially children), here are the major symptoms of Covid-19, according to the CDC.
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published on July 16, 2020, reported that 96 percent of the 164 study participants with lab-confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported experiencing at least one of those symptoms, and 45 percent experienced all three.
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss in taste or smell (Some report this odd symptom as one of the first indicators of the disease.)
Symptoms typically appear within 14 days after exposure, though they can appear as soon as two days after exposure.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- A rash on the skin or discoloration of the fingers or toes
- Headache
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- (The WHO lists a few symptoms that the CDC doesn't.)
For more help, try using Apple's Covid-19 diagnosis tool, an online questionnaire the company developed in coordination with the CDC, the White House, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The CDC also has a Coronavirus Self-Checker tool you can use. These tools will recommend a course of action based on your circumstances. There is also an Alexa skill from New York University that can answer basic questions about Covid-19.