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Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

FeverCoughSore throatShortness of breathRunny noseFatigueDiarrhoeaVomiting or nauseaLoss of smell and/or taste

Other symptoms people may experience include muscle or joint pain, and loss of appetite.

Everyone who gets COVID-19 will experience it a little differently.

People who have extreme symptoms or side effects from the virus may take weeks or months to recover fully, while people with a mild illness may feel completely better within a week or two.

Find out more about the symptoms of COVID-19 and how they compare with common cold and flu below. Symptoms can vary depending on each case.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, call your doctor or 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested.

Call emergency services on 000 if you are very sick.

Read more about on testing for COVID-19.

Symptoms of COVID-19 compared with flu, common cold and allergies

Symptoms	COVID-19 Symptoms range from mild to severe	Cold Gradual onset of symptoms	Flu Abrupt onset of symptoms	Allergies* May be abrupt or gradual onset of symptoms
Fever	Common	Rare	Common	No
Cough	Common	Common	Common	Common (asthma)
Sore throat	Sometimes	Common	Common	Sometimes (itchy throat and palate)
Shortness of breath	Sometimes	No	No	Common (asthma)
Fatigue	Sometimes	Sometimes	Common	Sometimes
Loss of smell and/or taste	Common	Common	Common	Common (hay fever)
Aches and pains	Sometimes	Sometimes	Common	No
Headaches	Sometimes	Sometimes	Common	Sometimes
Runny or stuffy nose	Sometimes	Common	Sometimes	Common
Diarrhoea	Rare	No	Sometimes (Especially for children)	No
Sneezing	No	Common	Sometimes	Common
Vomiting or nausea	Sometimes	Rare	Common in children Rare in adults	No

Adapted from material produced by Australian Government Department of Health, WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

*Respiratory allergies include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and allergic asthma. Other common symptoms of hay fever include itchy nose and itchy, watery eyes.

It is very difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of COVID-19, influenza and a cold. If you have any infectious or respiratory symptoms (such as a sore throat, headache, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, cough or runny nose) don’t go to work. You need to self-isolate and to be assessed by a medical professional. You may need testing for COVID-19. You must not return to work until cleared by a medical professional. You need to ensure that the people you care for are protected and safe. People who have respiratory allergy symptoms such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic asthma should stay home and get tested for COVID-19 at the onset of their symptoms and if they experience symptoms that are unexpected, seem different or worse than usual, or do not respond to their usual medication.

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