Symptoms Dry cough. Shortness of breath. Loss of taste or smell. Extreme tiredness, called fatigue. Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach, vomiting or loose stools, called diarrhea. Pain, such as headaches and body or muscle aches. Fever or chills. Cold-like symptoms such as congestion, runny nose or sore throat.
Take Over-The-Counter Medications Antivirals are most effective if started within the first 48 hours of symptoms. If used accurately, they can shorten the duration of illness by about 24 hours and decrease the risk of complications, especially in high-risk populations.
Possible symptoms include: Fever or chills. Cough. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Sore throat. Congestion or runny nose. New loss of taste or smell. Fatigue. Muscle or body aches.
Quarantine for at least five days following a high-risk exposure. The date of the last high-risk contact is considered day 0. Testing is encouraged on day five. Wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days following exposure.
Low-grade fever seems to be one of the more common early markers of COVID-19, Kline said, but not everyone will have a fever. Other potential symptoms include muscle aches, headaches, loss of appetite, and loss of taste or smell. Symptoms can appear between two and 14 days after exposure.
The symptoms of currently circulating variants are considered similar to those of earlier Omicron sub-variants – chiefly a high temperature (fever), body aches, tiredness and a cough or sore throat.
You can develop COVID-19 for up to 10 days after exposure. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, start isolation immediately and get tested as soon as you can. If you have no symptoms of COVID-19, get tested on day 6 after your last exposure. You should test even if you do not have symptoms.
Seek medical care, but call ahead before you go to a doctor's office or emergency room. Tell your doctor about your symptoms and that you are a close contact to a person diagnosed with COVID-19. Avoid contact with others. If available, put on a mask or face covering before you arrive for medical care.
But most people don't develop symptoms from a COVID illness right away. It takes a day or two after getting sick with the virus to start feeling sick. That means people are contagious and spreading the virus 1 to 2 days before they even realize they're sick.