Signs & symptoms

Table of Contents

Common symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of Breath

If you have symptoms call your healthcare provider immediately. You can find other information about symptoms on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

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Symptoms appear in 2 to 14 days

People may have the virus for 2 to 14 days before having symptoms.

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Early symptoms

There have been a number of people in the early stages of COVID-19 infection who have reported losing their sense of smell and taste.

While the most common signs of active infection are fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, people with COVID-19 have also reported aches and pains, and some have headaches. Gastrointestinal symptoms have been reported in approximately 3% to 5% of patients, while an even smaller percentage of patients have a runny nose or sneezing.

“A loss of smell or taste is something that we're looking into,” says Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical lead, WHO Health Emergencies Programme. “We're looking forward to the results of the early investigations that are being conducted.”

The studies are conducted with an evidence-based approach so these 2 symptoms may, in time, be added to the list.

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Seasonal allergies

Watch this video to better understand the difference between seasonal allergies and COVID-19 symptoms.