In general, COVID-19 causes a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe, though for some it can be deadly. Symptoms, which usually appear 2 to 14 days after someone gets infected, can include:

• Cough

• Shortness of breath

• Fever

• Chills (or repeated shaking with chills)

• Muscle pain

• Headache

• Sore throat

• New loss of taste or smell 

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

If you have these symptoms, call your healthcare professional first, before visiting an office. Your healthcare professional will determine if your symptoms match COVID-19 and whether you should be tested. Also contact your healthcare professional if you have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 and/or have recently traveled to an area where COVID-19 cases have occurred. If you want to get tested, try calling your state or local health department or a healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider might also suggest either an at-home collection kit or an at-home test if you think you might have COVID-19 but you can’t get tested by a healthcare provider or public health official.

This list does not contain every emergency warning sign. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any severe symptoms that have you concerned.

For any additional questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider or state or local health department.

Last Updated December 2021