COVID-19

Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) in adults 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
• A new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• An aching body
• A headache
• A sore throat
• A blocked or runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling sick or being sick

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.

What to do if you have symptoms

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and either:
• You have a high temperature
• You do not feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities

Take extra care to avoid close contact with anyone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

Who needs to do a COVID-19 test

Free testing for COVID-19 from the NHS has ended for most people in England.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you are no longer required to do a rapid lateral flow or PCR test.

If you still want to get tested and you're not eligible for a free NHS test, you must pay for a COVID-19 test yourself.

You can buy a COVID-19 test from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.

Treating a high temperature

If you have a high temperature, it can help to:
• Get lots of rest
• Drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration - drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable

Treating a cough

If you have a cough, it's best to avoid lying on your back. Lie on your side or sit upright instead.

To help ease a cough, try having a teaspoon of honey. But do not give honey to babies under 12 months.

If this does not help, you could contact a pharmacist for advice about cough treatments.

Things to try if you're feeling breathless

If you're feeling breathless, it can help to keep your room cool.

Try turning the heating down or opening a window. Do not use a fan as it may spread the virus.

You could also try: • Breathing slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you're gently blowing out a candle
• Sitting upright in a chair
• relaxing your shoulders, so you're not hunched
• leaning forward slightly - support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair Try not to panic if you're feeling breathless. This can make it worse.

Page last reviewed: 9 June 2022
Next review due: 24 April 2023