The acute symptoms of COVID-19—cough, fever, and shortness of breath—can develop 2 to 14 days after exposure to coronavirus.
However, these symptoms are common to other illnesses, too. How do you know if your cough, fever, or difficulty breathing is due to COVID-19 or something else? If you have any of these symptoms, you should test for COVID-19 immediately at home or by contacting your doctor’s office.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- Fever or Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Diarrhea
- Loss of sense of smell or taste
People with these symptoms may have COVID-19 and should get tested immediately. Learn more about COVID-19 variants.
Facts and information about the coronavirus pandemic are constantly changing. Visit the CDC site for the most up-to-date information during the COVID-19 outbreak.