Diagnosing COVID without a test is bewildering, because there are so many possible symptoms (one ongoing study in the UK identified over 20!). It is possible that symptoms could also vary depending on whether the person is unvaccinated, was vaccinated, or had a booster. Some symptoms may be more common in one variant of SARS-CoV-2 than another.
People ill with COVID-19 might not have all those symptoms, and some have no symptoms at all. When in doubt, get a test to be sure.
Here's one chart that compares symptoms to help diagnose:
The Centers for Disease Control warns to get medical treatment immediately if these symptoms appear:
The current dominant variant spreads faster and further than earlier versions of this disease, which means a lot more people will need to take precautions if they were close to someone infected. Advice from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department on what to do if you've been in close contact with someone infected is slightly different, depending on vaccination status:
Not vaccinated? Vaccinated more than 6 months ago, but not yet boosted? Follow these directions:
If your vaccinations are up-to-date and recent:
Uh oh, feeling sick ...
Don't wait to get medical attention if symptoms are severe (see Danger Signs, above).
Guidelines for how long to isolate if you have (or suspect you have) COVID have recently changed. Santa Clara County Public Health has collected comprehensive updated advice on these webpages:
Before showing up at a medical facility, check in first. If your health plan offers medical advice by telephone, call them. If you don't have that option, don't just show up at an urgent care or emergency room -- call ahead, if possible, to let them know it's suspected COVID. It is vital that health facilities have time to prepare before you arrive, to protect staff and the other patients from potential infection.
If you feel sick and do not have health insurance at present, call your local county public health department for instructions.
What if I'm not that sick? People with mild or moderate symptoms of COVID can take steps to manage this disease (supportive care) while staying home. Seek medical attention ASAP if any of the danger signs of severe disease are present, though.
Supportive care includes:
What about Paxlovid?
In the earlier days of this pandemic, people who were more at-risk for serious illness were encouraged to take the antiviral medication Paxlovid to reduce the severity of COVID symptoms, and to shorten how long symptoms last.
BUT - a study by the drug's manufacturer published in the NEJM in April 2024 found that it had very little effect on symptom severity or length of symptoms in people who were fully vaccinated. (The original research on Paxlovid was before vaccines were widely available.)
It may still be wise for the most vulnerable (people with diabetes, heart conditions, disabilities, serious or chronic illness - see this more complete list) to take this drug, if it can be started within the first 5 days of infection.
NOTE: that research study looked only at Paxlovid. Other antiviral drugs (Remdesivir, Molnupravir) may still be useful for COVID infections.
Rebound infections: in some cases people develop rebound infections, a bounce back of symptoms after feeling better for a few days (or even a week). It's also possible to test positive again soon after negative results (asymptomatic rebound). Since even asymptomatic rebound infections can spread the disease, it is wise to continue to test for another 5 days up to one week after recovery to make sure test results are still negative, and to wear a mask during that time when around other people.
In rare cases, SARS-CoV-2 has been discovered in sick pets. Currently, the CDC advises:
If you are sharing a home with someone who has COVID-19, do your best to isolate them in the home away from everyone else. If they can't be in a room by themselves, with a door that closes, see if they can have a bed to themselves, with screens or curtains or furniture to separate them from other people in the home. Sick people should wear masks to avoid sharing the virus. Eating alone (not sharing meals with other people), and carefully washing dishes and utensils afterwards will help slow the spread.
If one person in the household is sick, it is highly likely that unvaccinated people sharing that space are sick, too, or will soon be. Everyone in that household should self-quarantine as best they can.
People sharing that home who are fully vaccinated (had initial vaccine plus any boosters for which they are eligible) can also become infected, although they are less likely to become sick. They do not need to self-quarantine if they test negative. However they would be wise to wear a mask to protect themselves and others, and to test with a home antigen test every 3-5 days until the sick person has fully recovered.
Since people can continue to shed coronavirus even after they start to feel better, it's safest to follow the CDC precautions for 5-7 days afterwards. Later, if someone else in the household gets sick, that resets the self-quarantine clock for everyone in that household.
If you can, get vaccinated and boosted ASAP!
Reports have found that the risk of adverse effects to both mothers and babies is extremely low when mothers get vaccinated -- but both face much greater risks if mothers get seriously ill with COVID while pregnant. (See the page on Vaccines in this guide for more details on getting vaccinated while pregnant or breastfeeding.)
The CDC's guidance includes advice on pregnancy and delivery, on breastfeeding mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections, and on new baby care during this pandemic.
The text on this page is copyright Lise M. Dyckman and PlaneTree Health Library, licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Linked contents are the responsibility of their creators or copyright holders.