Patients are urged to seek emergency medical attention if they experience: -Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. The overall effect of vaccination against long COVID symptoms still needs to be studied. If you're showing any of these symptoms and think you've been exposed or in contact with someone with the virus, the CDC recommends calling your doctor first before showing up to their office to get testedthey'll be able to determine if it's worth it for you to come in to get tested or to do a home test. Alternatively, those experiencing or recovering from long COVID may need inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation when needed or exercise as tolerated or under the care of a physician. Tests used for detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) may use two methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of COVID-19 disease, adebilitating and potentially deadly viral pneumonia. Transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through contact with respiratory sections from an infected person, however, fecal contamination may also spread the virus. doi:10.1038/s41591-022-01689-3, Vu T, McGill SC. Recently updated guidelines set forth by CDC officials indicate that those who test positive for COVID-19 must be isolated at home for at least five days. Can I get COVID-19 more than once? Shes a Fordham University graduate who also has a degree in Italian Studies, so naturally shes always daydreaming about focaccia. How Long Does It Take To Recover? Version 20. . But experts have eagerly documented current and earlier Omicron-based outbreaks in major cities across the country, allowing them to have a better idea of how well vaccines are protecting individuals and influencing recovery periods in 2022. So far, research shows that the symptoms of long COVID may last for about a year or more. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Emergence of new subvariant sparks fresh coronavirus fears, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Related: Health secretary blames NHS pressures on flu, Covid and Strep A fears. If you're currently in recovery from a breakthrough COVID-19 case, you may be wondering if it's too late to get a third or fourth vaccine dose. Patients infected with COVID-19 have described their headaches as retro-orbital pain accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and weakness. They usually happen within six weeks of getting a vaccine. It can occur as a separate entity (primary headache) or as a symptom of various underlying conditions (secondary headache). With the crisis-stricken NHS already under severe pressure from a number of winter illnesses, the public are being urged to get back into the habit of wearing face masks in public and staying at home if they feel unwell, although the government insisted the advice was pretty longstanding and not mandatory, as it has not been since July 2021. The range and duration of symptoms vary from one individual to another. "One of those options is monoclonal antibody treatment; these drugs are administered through an IV that work like the body's natural antibodies in fighting off disease. Read our, What You Need to Know About the Updated COVID-19 Boosters. Most people with COVID-19 get better within a few days to a few weeks after infection, so at least four weeks after infection is the start of when post-COVID conditions could first be identified. Those with a mild case of COVID-19 usually recover in one to two weeks. They will carefully evaluate the use of steroids and determine the dosage and duration in your case following treatment standards. Infectious disease experts reaffirm that the best defense against COVID is vaccination. A relative of Omicron, XBB.1.5 was first detected in the state of New York in October 2022, already accounts for more than 40 per cent of American cases and is said to be spreading more than twice as fast as BQ.1.1, one of the most common variations in the UK, according to The Guardian. "There are additional treatment options available for vaccinated people over age 65, or those with high-risk comorbidities that experience a breakthrough COVID case," Boden-Albala adds. You can order them here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people aged 12 and older get one updated bivalent booster shot if they are at least two months out from their last COVID vaccine dosewhether thats from their primary series dose or their most recent booster shot. If you get COVID-19, you may test positive on a PCR test for several weeks after you have ceased to be infectious. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. "These conditions can last weeks, months, or years.". ", A Cleaning Expert Explains the Best Way to Clean Cloth Face Masks After You Wear Them Good Housekeeping, 35 Delicious Pantry Recipes That Use What's Already in Your Cabinets and Freezer Good Housekeeping, The Amish keep to themselves. Blurry vision. Data has shown that most people who catch Omicron will recover in less than a week. See additional information. "Still, breakthrough cases are less likely to cause long-COVID.". As with any immunization, it is normal to have side effects after receiving your COVID-19 vaccine, irrespective of the dose. We encourage all our patients to get vaccinated and boosted according to CDC recommendations.. "Crush syndrome is a life-threatening event," the researchers wrote. Desperate for relief, some patients are flying across the world for costly apheresis treatmentseven though there's no evidence it works. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. According to official Government data, 77,550 people tested positive for the virus in England in the seven days up to 16 June a 32 per cent increase on the week prior. And the experts we spoke with projected about four to six months of COVID-19 protection. And before you consider going on any special diets or drinking specialized juices, just know that the goal is to maintain habits that benefit your overall health. So Why Are We Talking About It? Those patients may not have as long as immunity as somebody who has an intact immune system, Sobhanie said. Around 150 vaccines were in various stages of development across the globe as of mid December 2020; many had completed the Phase III clinical trials, a final step leading to approval by governments around the world. According to Bhuyan, another reason for extended protection is that we havent seen ahuge emergence of new variants, likely because COVID cases are not surging [and] variants are more likely to occur during a surge.. If you are experiencing headache with COVID-19, consult about which pain relievers to take. Headaches after a concussion most often feel like tension-type headaches. Diarrhoea and vomiting could be an important sign of Covid-19 in children, researchers say, leading to calls for the official NHS list of symptoms to be updated. Nat Med. Published online May 24 2022. doi:10.1002/acn3.51570, Xie Y, Xu E, Bowe B, et al. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Continue to self-isolate until you get your result. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Theres no data that suggests the different variants cause a different length of time in symptoms, says Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. If that test is also negative you can leave isolation. Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. COVID-19 headaches typically last for a few days, although the duration depends on your age, immune system, and overall health condition. Post-COVID Diabetes: Can Coronavirus Cause Type 2 Diabetes? She was the 2020 recipient of the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association Jack Shelley Award. Experts say that COVID booster immunity will also be . But others experience lingering health problems even after the fever and cough go away and they are no longer testing positive for the illness. Meet the experts:Ramprasad Gopalan, MD, is a Florida-based infectious disease physician. If either test is positive continue isolating until you receive negative tests two days in a row, or until day 10, whichever is sooner. Your immune system reacts to viruses like the COVID-19 virus by attacking the cells, which can lead to symptoms such as headache. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has emergency authorization from the FDA for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 and older. Trajectory of long covid symptoms after covid-19 vaccination: Community based cohort study. "For moderate to severe disease, expect up to 3 months or longer. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}These Bidets Will Keep Your Butt Happier Than Ever, This Is The World We Live In, We Live With MS, These Healthy Habits of the Royals Are Worth Steal, Find Your Purpose In Life In 3 Easy Steps, How One Woman Takes Control Of Her Life With MS, Say Goodbye To Those Ingrown Hairs On Your Vulva, 'I Tried This Stress-Relief Device For 30 Days', Sweaty Sleepers Need These Mattress Toppers, 3 Bladder Health Myths You Need to Stop Believing, Here's Everything Jenna Bush Hager Eats In A Day, How To Talk To Your Doc About Your Bathroom Habits. Lots of people sharing their symptoms with the Covid Symptom Tracker app say they last longer than 14 days Data from the Covid Symptom Study app, downloaded more than three million times,. In general, symptoms will typically appear 2-to-14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the CDC. "I think it's really variable depending from person to person," Welbel said. But Who Will Take It? Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. It is unclear why around a third of infected patients develop long COVID, and there may be an autoimmune predisposition to it, he added. Children and teens ages 6 months-17 years Adults 18 years and older After a second shot or booster The updated bivalent COVID-19 booster shots will likely provide immunity lasting up to four to six monthssimilar to what earlier shots offered. We see plenty of people get re-infected with COVID. "We're seeing more what we call upper respiratory symptoms more recently," Arwady said. A nagging, dry "post-viral cough" can last up to eight weeks, as inflammation in the airways persists even though a person is no longer infected with a virus. Fatigue that lasts beyond the acute infection . Learn what the rapid antigen test is used for, how it works, and what the pros and cons are. As a general rule, breakthrough COVID-19 cases often present symptoms that may affect individuals acutely anywhere from a few days up to two full weeks, Boden-Albala clarifies. COVID-19-related headache may be relieved with: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and mefenamic acid, have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials of symptomatic headache treatment. Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. The new boosters were only just authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of August, so we dont yet have the information we need to know for sure how long immunity from the shots will last. If you test positive, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test, or from the day your symptoms started (whichever was earlier). If the test is negative you can leave isolation immediately. According to the CDC, COVID symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus. According to that studywhich was published in the New England Journal of Medicinethe bivalent vaccine provided protection for at least a month. "We pay a lot of attention to fever because while fever is ongoing there is a lot inflammation in your body, you're often very infectious and so that we usually see go away sooner," she said. Genomic or molecular detection confirms the presence of viral DNA. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. And similar to routine cautionary measures, minimizing exposure to sick patients and receiving a vaccination and booster will be beneficial long-term. Gopalan explains that the length of long COVID depends on the health status of the person before they got infected, the severity of their illness, and the spectrum of symptoms they experience. Rarely, decreases in taste and smell. The incubation period varies among individuals, and it varies depending on the variant, she explains. How Many Times Can You Get Reinfected With the Same COVID Variant? Positive cases should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day of their test. You may even have your own at-home COVID-19 test in your medicine cabinet for the just in case. Vaccines are the most protective and effective form of COVID-19 prevention available but many don't realize current vaccines aren't designed to avert COVID-19 transmission entirely, as "their strength is in preventing systemic illness and serious illness in the lungs," explains Peter F. Wright, M.D., infectious disease and international health practitioner for New Hampshire's largest academic medical system, Dartmouth Health. Natasha Bhuyan, MD, a family physician in Phoenix, Arizona, told Verywell that based on what we know about prior vaccines, theres no reason to believe that immunity from the boosters would not last at least four to six months. Learn more about covid-19 diagnosed or suspected including covid-19 disease: frequently asked questions, as well as when to seek care. Long-COVID symptoms can range from a wide variety of ailments, some of which may even disappear and then return later. Should wear a mask or not? The World Health Organization reports that people with COVID-19 "generally develop signs and symptoms, including mild respiratory symptoms and fever, on an average of 5-6 days after infection . Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines. "Breakthrough cases occur when COVID-19 variants evade the body's immune response but most breakthrough cases are asymptomatic or mild, due to the vaccinated person having built-up immunity against the virus. ': Messages reveal frantic hours after Hancock affair story breaks, 'The man is a narcissist': Tories despair as 'bully' Boris Johnson threatens Sunak's new start, Maternity expert pulls out of conference accused of promoting 'normal birth' ideology, Instagram midwife faces misconduct hearing over racially offensive posts, One of history's most famous psychological experiments was probably fake, Poverty complaints are 'bollocks' says Tory deputy chair: 'They dont know what poverty is', Ken Bruce's final show reminded us he doesn't just talk to everyone, he listens to them, too, Who hates my naked protests most? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How long do COVID symptoms last? "It can and does occur in a small percentage of cases. The Zoe Covid study, which has been collecting data throughout the pandemic, says there are currently around 200,000 new infections across the UK every day. https://t.co/x7uA1gT4ja pic.twitter.com/OG7dOtOE0J, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) May 20, 2022. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. Here's what you need to know about typical COVID-19 symptoms, how long the virus and its symptoms tend to last, and what you can do to recover faster. COVID-19 vaccines are available. Fatigue is another symptom that can last a bit longer, she said. There are exceptions for those individuals, particularly those already considered at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, who end up experiencing post-COVID syndrome otherwise known as "Long" Covid. But for some, symptoms may last even longer. It is taking less time to develop symptoms, it is taking less time that someone may be infectious and it is, for many people, taking less time to recover. Infected people should try to work from home if they can. Healthcare experts have established in the past that SARS-CoV-2 variants may trigger one set of symptoms more commonly than others and the same is true for the current viral Omicron subvariant, BA.2.12.1. Most people with COVID-19 will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without the need for intensive or special treatment. Unlike other respiratory illnesses such as MERS and SARS, COVID-19 patients will likely develop nausea and vomiting before diarrhea, the researchers found. How Long Does Norovirus Last? Fever is also possibly one of the first symptoms someone with COVID might experience at the onset of infection. A 2022 study looked into the recovery of individuals with long COVID and neurological symptoms like brain fog. Among people age 65 and older, 1 in 4 has at least one medical condition that might be due to COVID-19. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. Meanwhile, others are struggling with the side effects of long COVID and are constantly looking for answers as to why their symptoms haven't cleared up. It takes anywhere from two to 14 days for exposure to lead to symptoms and a positive test. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies, A woman where a Covid mask on the London Underground. What is the COVID-19 antigen test? But, according to the CDC, four weeks after infection is when. Mara is a freelance writer and editor specializing in culture, politics, wellness, and the intersection between them, whose print and digital work has appeared in Marie Claire, Womens Health, Cosmopolitan, Airbnb Mag, Prevention, and more. It is believed people are at their most infectious one to two days before the onset of symptoms, and during the two to three days afterwards. In line with what vaccine experts have previously established, Dr. Wright explains that vaccine antibodies decrease naturally over time, and lower amounts of this immunity often result in a longer breakthrough sickness. "Post-COVID conditions may not affect everyone the same way. Should the test be negative, you can leave isolation immediately. Someone who tested positive for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 90 days and has subsequently recovered and remains without COVID-19 symptoms does not need to quarantine. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Staying up-to-date on your booster vaccines, which are additional shots given to prime your immune system after your first two mRNA-based vaccinations, can shorten the length of your sickness. "Most people with post-COVID conditions experienced symptoms days after their SARS CoV-2 infection when they knew they had COVID-19, but some people with post-COVID conditions did not notice when they first had an infection," the CDC states. However, close contacts with prior COVID-19 infection in the previous 90 days should: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including boosters. Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Experts do caution patients that the severity, or even the type, of initial symptoms can vary widely from person to person. However, considering that study was only over a month, other experts believe that immunity from the updated shots will likely last much longer. COVID-19 bivalent vaccine boosters. How long does Covid typically last? "Long-haulers, are defined as individuals who have had COVID symptoms for six or more weeks,the hospital system has said. Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. If you have not tested positive, you should try to stay home until you feel better. Acetaminophen and triptans are also considered safe for treating migraine-like headaches caused by COVID-19. Her work has been published in Esquire, Nylon, Cosmopolitan, and other publications. Although some symptoms did not change after recovering from the initial COVID-19 infection, the findings showed that dysgeusia (altered sense of taste) and anosmia (loss of smell) mostly went away. Common Side Effects Side effects after a COVID-19 vaccination tend to be mild, temporary, and like those experienced after routine vaccinations. But as the current viral strain of SARS-CoV-2, BA.2.12.1, often results in milder symptoms in a majority of cases, the likelihood of symptoms extending beyond a full week isn't high. The health service recommends taking a rapid flow or PCR test to determine whether you do have Covid, although this is no longer an official requirement and the tests are no longer provided for free in most cases. .css-1le8lkk{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;display:inline-block;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;background-color:#ffffff;border:thin solid #f7623b;border-radius:0.3125rem;font-family:NationalBlack,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:0.875rem;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0.05rem;padding:0.5rem 0.7rem;text-transform:uppercase;width:auto;}.css-1le8lkk:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;background-color:#f7623b;border:thin solid #f7623b;}.css-1le8lkk:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}Sign up for WH+ for unlimited site access and more. "Most patients symptoms slowly improve with time. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Covid news live: New variant XBB.1.5 sparks concerns as Brits urged to wear masks again, EU moving toward joint measures to face China Covid crisis, What is XBB Covid? "Immunity wanes over time, making herd immunity a moving target," Boden-Albala says. Generally, people are no longer contagious about 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Oddly enough it's feminists, One of the UK's smallest towns has an award-winning pub and England's oldest fishing society, The golden health rules GPs live by, including why you should ditch your weekend lie-ins, The Government delay of the Pensions Dashboard may well cost you tens of thousands of pounds, Where to get Greatest Hits Radio on FM and DAB and when Ken Bruce starts, Government WhatsApp decision-making threatens 'accountability', warns Information Commissioner, Suella Braverman to issue blasphemy guidance for schools following Quran incident in Wakefield, Government set to introduce new powers to crack down on small boat crossings next week, Hopes to discover 'thousands' of planets with signs of alien life in next 20 years, Do not sell or share my personal information, Problems with memory and concentration (brain fog), Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, A high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste, 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), New, continuous cough this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours, Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, Work from home if you can. 4 With typical pneumonia, respiratory symptoms usually start to clear up in a month to six weeks, COVID pneumonia can take weeks longer and cause more significant damage, which extends the illness. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for use as a booster dose. The vaccine is the most important thing for protection.". Evidence also suggests that people diagnosed with COVID-19 are starting to develop rashes on the skin. COVID-19 Booster Shots: What You Need to Know. For a typical case of COVID, the symptom that tends to last the longest is fatigue (lasting three months or longer), says Ramprasad Gopalan, MD, an infectious disease specialist. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. And theyre hiding a horrifying secret. Plus, how long youre contagious if you get it. The CDC also includes the following less-common symptoms: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; Care Guide Update: September 14, 2022. 2022;377. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-069676. "The authors believe that early transportation and immediate intensive care therapy would have improved the survival rate." Updated: February 28, 2023, 10:32 PM. She was the 2020 recipient of the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association Jack Shelley Award. These results suggest that there is a late development of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous systemdysautonomiain these patients, Koralnik said. "Post-COVID conditions may not affect everyone the same way. What drugs could help fight coronavirus COVID-19? The emergence of a highly transmissible new Covid-19 subvariant, XBB.1.5, has revived concern about the spread of the virus in the UK this January. It offers guidance on how to cope with specific symptoms that might be causing discomfort while you recuperate here. . This does nothing to help us get over COVID as a city," she said. It also triggered a higher binding antibody response against other COVID variants, including alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. "I find with omicron we do know that still the most common is fever, cough - not so much shortness of breath anymore like we had with the Wuhan virus, but fever, sore throat and, as I said, cough.". Some people are asymptomatic, meaning they never have symptoms but do have Covid-19.. Healthcare providers have noted that breakthrough infection symptoms associated with this highly contagious variant are remaining mild a much different reality than for those who are unvaccinated, or are experiencing a second or third reinfection. Anyone who previously had a COVID-19 infectionno matter how mild or severe it wasis at risk of long COVID, a wide range of new or continuing symptoms that persist after recovery from acute infection. Issuing back-to-school advice for parents on Monday, Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warned that flu and Covid are currently circulating at high levels while large numbers of scarlet fever continue to be reported, advising families to keep their young ones at home if they show signs of illness and for adults to steer clear of healthcare settings for the vulnerable unless urgent. Headache is a potential symptom of COVID-19 and can also occur after getting vaccinated. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page. Headache is a potential symptom of COVID-19 and can also occur after getting vaccinated. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Sufferers are also urged to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, particularly the vulnerable, if they believe they have Covid. Boosting is one part of the strategy to deal with COVID-19 going forward. You can end isolation after five full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved. Medically, headache is not a sign; it is a symptom. Should You Still Get a Booster Shot After a Breakthrough COVID Case? There is a diverse range of recovery based on multiple factors," says Gopalan. doi:10.51731/cjht.2021.160, Ayoubkhani D, Bermingham C, Pouwels KB, et al. New Study Finds Possible Key Factors, What to Know About Parkinsons Disease and COVID-19. Research shows that after 2 weeks, the vaccine is 66.9% effective in preventing moderate to severe critical COVID-19 disease. Can Asymptomatic COVID Infections Result in Long COVID? See additional information. This increases to 85.4% . Treatment focuses on supportive care and symptom relief. Because people are only just beginning to get vaccinated with this Omicron-targeted vaccine, theres not a lot of documentation about how many COVID cases, hospitalizations, or even deaths occurred in those who received it. However, in more severe cases, mild or moderate headaches may come and go for up to 90 days. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Tuesday that a cough will likely be the symptom that lingers longest, while a fever will be among the first symptoms to fade. Current Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 has triggered many breakthrough COVID-19 infections within the United States, triggering up to 50% of new infections across the country. Symptoms start off flu-like and progress to coughing, fever, shortness of breath, shaking chills, headache, loss of sense of taste and/or smell, muscle pain, and sore throat. They have been known to develop at the beginning of an infection, with respiratory symptoms possibly following a day later, according to an article from Emerson Health.