Mild COVID-19 often feels like a bad cold or the flu, with symptoms like a stuffy/runny nose, sore throat, headache, fatigue, cough, fever/chills, body aches, and sometimes loss of taste/smell, diarrhea, or nausea, making testing crucial for diagnosis as it overlaps with other illnesses.
With Mild Symptoms
Mild to moderate illness from COVID-19 usually lasts an average of 7 to 14 days. 1 For some people, symptoms fade in a matter of days; for others, it takes weeks.
Mild COVID-19 means you might have symptoms like a cough, sore throat, or fatigue — but you don't have shortness of breath.
Fever or chills. Cough. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Sore throat.
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.
Day 4-7: Symptom Escalation
Particles from an infected person can move throughout an entire room or indoor space. The particles can also linger in the air after a person has left the room – they can remain airborne for hours in some cases.
COVID-19 symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms of a cold may come on gradually, while the flu usually starts abruptly. Below is a chart that may help determine which illness you have. Symptoms can vary widely with each of these illnesses.
Common New COVID Variant Symptoms in 2025
Yes. Fever is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, but it's possible to have COVID without a fever. In a review of studies done during the early pandemic, only 78% of people who got sick with COVID developed a fever. That means nearly 1 in 4 people didn't develop a fever when they were sick.
COVID-19 dizziness can be one of the early symptoms of an infection with the coronavirus and may last for a few days to several weeks. In some cases, the dizziness can linger on after the original infection with the coronavirus. This situation is called long COVID, in which symptoms can last for weeks to months.
You may wonder if a sore throat is still a symptom of COVID-19 or if there are other more prevalent symptoms to look out for. Yes, sore throat and COVID are still closely associated, and a painful throat is often one of the first symptoms.
COVID-19 tends to be most contagious in the first 1-2 days before and up to 8-10 days after symptoms begin. It's important to monitor your symptoms and follow the guidance of your healthcare provider.
Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help feel better.
The good news is, most people experience only mild symptoms, feel better within a week and can recover fully on their own at home. Some may be sick much longer and require monitoring and/or hospitalization.
What are the most common symptoms of long COVID?
Some people may have symptoms that get worse about 5 to 7 days after symptoms start. Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. But COVID-19 can cause serious medical complications and lead to death. Older adults and people who already have medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness.
Night sweats. They can occur as a sign that your body is fighting off infection, and you may also experience other symptoms such as chills, fever, and body aches. Extreme fatigue. You may also experience other symptoms at the same time, such as dizziness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
Signs and symptoms
Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include: Fever or feeling feverish/having chills (Not everyone with flu will have a fever.) Cough. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Sneezing can be a symptom of COVID-19. It was originally thought to be a much rarer symptom. It has since become more common with newer COVID-19 variants and in vaccinated people who contract the virus. 1 Even so, the common cold and allergies are a more likely cause of sneezing.
COVID-19 and seasonal flu also can cause different complications. COVID-19 examples are blood clots, post-COVID conditions and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Flu can lead to an infection by bacteria more often than COVID-19 infections do.
The COVID virus has more success surviving on hard surfaces, such as glass and plastic, than on porous ones like bedding. Once the virus lands on a porous material like a fabric, the droplets evaporate much quicker than they do on a hard surface.
Use a portable air cleaner or air purifier if you have one
When used properly, air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses, in a home or confined space.
7 Steps to Take After a Virus Has Hit Your Home