Symptoms of COVID-19 can be mild, like the symptoms of a common cold or allergies. They can also be serious, like shortness of breath or trouble breathing. In the most serious cases, COVID-19 can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, organ failure, or death. These severe outcomes are more likely to happen in people with risk factors for severe disease, as well as people who aren’t vaccinated or haven’t gotten all their recommended vaccine doses.
Symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Cough
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Loss of taste and/or smell
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
People who have any COVID-like symptoms should get tested as soon as possible and isolate.
Emergency warning signs
If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately by calling 911 or going to your local emergency facility:
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Trouble breathing.
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Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
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New confusion.
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Inability to wake up or stay awake.
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Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone.
This list does not include all possible severe symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.