Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 symptoms can include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.

Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.

For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.

What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.

If you are eligible for treatments for COVID-19, you should take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as you get symptoms.

Find out more about treatments for COVID-19 and who can have them

How to look after COVID-19 symptoms yourself

It’s not always possible to treat COVID-19. But there are things you can do to help ease some of the symptoms, such as a high temperature, a cough and breathlessness.

Do

• get lots of rest

• drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable

• try having a teaspoon of honey if you have a cough – do not give honey to babies under 12 months

• try turning the heating down or opening a window to help with breathlessness

• breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you're gently blowing out a candle

• sit upright in a chair to help with breathlessness

• relax your shoulders, so you're not hunched to help with breathlessness

• lean forward slightly – support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair to help with breathlessness

Don’t

• do not lie on your back if you have a cough – lie on your side or sit upright instead

• do not use a fan to cool your room as it may spread the virus

• try not to panic if you're feeling breathless – this can make it worse

A pharmacist can help with a cough

If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist for advice about cough treatments.

What to do if you have tested positive

If you or your child have tested positive for COVID-19:

• try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults
• try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over
• avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test

You are no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms.