Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.
COVID-19 symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms can include:
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) - a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms
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
You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.
You are no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms.
But if you or your child have tested positive for COVID-19:
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for a further 3 days after your positive test if you are under 18 years
- try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for a further 5 days after your positive test if you are 18 or over
- avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for a further 10 days after your positive test
Getting help
- Call 111 or visit 111 online if you are worried about yours or your childs COVID-19 symptoms and are unsure of what to do
- If you or your child are very unwell, get sudden chest pain, are breathless, coughing up blood, collapse or have a rash that doesn't disappear when you roll a glass over it - call 999 or go to A&E
More information
- NHS COVID Pass
- When to call 119 - COVID-19 and vaccination advice line in 200 languages