COVID-19 is very much still with us – and if you’re anything like us, you’ll have noticed more and more people complaining that they’re getting sick over the last couple of weeks. We know that there are some new COVID variants doing the rounds, but what are the symptoms to look out for?
The saucily named COVID-19 FLiRT variants have been surging to global dominance in recent weeks, overtaking the previous leading variant (JN.1) so that one of them, KP.2, is now responsible for the biggest proportion of infections. That’s according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Fortunately, experts say there’s reason to believe that any previous vaccines you’ve had, or a recent COVID infection, could still offer you some protection, a viewpoint that’s also backed by some promising recent research. But we know that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a wily one. While vaccines have undoubtedly shifted the course of this pandemic on a monumental scale, they don’t offer absolute protection against infection.
Although the Northern Hemisphere is now outside the typical peak season for respiratory viruses, COVID-19 is not the only bug out there. How can you tell if you’ve been infected?
The symptoms of COVID have changed over time, along with our understanding of how this disease can present very differently in different people. “When COVID first came, it was characterized by these very odd, vague symptoms – from brain fog, feeling exhausted, and losing taste and smell,” Ziad Tukmachi, a London-based GP, told BBC Future. “Now I feel it’s mutated to more similar symptoms to the flu, where it’s very difficult clinically to distinguish between the two.”
The CDC last updated its guidance on COVID-19 symptoms on March 15 of this year as of the time of publication, so the list of possible symptoms reflects what we know about the most recent circulating variants. They include:
- Fever/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
These last two can surprise people, who may assume they’re suffering from a stomach bug instead. Equally, you may have symptoms so mild that you might mistake them for a cold or even hay fever. Symptoms like the loss of taste and smell, which were so characteristic of COVID in the early days, now appear to be much less common.
The upshot of this is that it’s probably more difficult than ever to tell whether you’ve actually got COVID, and not some other illness, without getting a test. If you have cold and flu symptoms, the safest thing to do is to stay home and keep your distance from others. If you have risk factors that may make you more likely to get severe symptoms, the CDC recommends you seek medical attention promptly, as there are now treatments available that can help if they’re taken soon enough.
COVID-19 can still cause long-term impacts that science is racing to try and understand. While for most of us, the times of mask mandates and toilet paper shortages are likely behind us, it’s important we are mindful of those in our communities who are more vulnerable, and who may not have yet been able to drop their defenses in the same way. Basic precautions like staying away from others when we’re sick, and seeking a test to double-check what symptoms might mean, can help everyone continue to navigate this pandemic as safely as possible.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
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