Fall’s here, and along with the crisp air, cozy sweaters, and pretty leaves, we’ve got COVID season on the horizon again. At this point, we’ve all pretty much learned to live with the respiratory infection (you got your annual booster, right?). But because new strains are circulating (hi, XEC variant), now’s a good time to brush up on symptoms to watch for and what to do if you think you might be sick.
Experts in This Article
Dean of School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College
chief of the Department of Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey
So, let’s real quick do a review for the 2024-2025 cold and flu (and COVID) season, shall we? Here are the top COVID symptoms to look for this fall and winter and what you need to do in terms of testing, quarantining, and so on this time around.
Top COVID symptoms
It’s basically a repeat of the last several years when it comes to symptoms. “No new or previously unusual symptoms have emerged in a major way,” says Robert Amler, MD, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York.
According to the Mayo Clinic, common COVID symptoms include:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Chills or fever
- Body aches
- Loss of taste or smell
- Chest pain
- Feeling very tired
- In older adults, new or unusual confusion
Not everyone will have all of these symptoms, and a few will have long-term symptoms that can vary widely. What’s more, symptoms can range from mild (I kinda feel sick?) to moderate (I really need to stay in bed for a couple days) to severe (I feel so bad that I need to go to the hospital), says Suraj Kumar Saggar, DO, chief of the Department of Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Speaking of severe symptoms, while they definitely can happen with COVID, they’re not happening more often this year than in years past. “The newer strains are not showing greater risks of hospitalization and death,” Dr. Amler says.
What should you do if you think you have COVID?
In most cases, it’ll be tough to tell whether your symptoms are from COVID, a cold, the flu, or even strep throat. “Symptoms of different respiratory infections are more similar than different,” notes Dr. Amler.
In general, it’s a good idea to stay home if you’re having symptoms of any kind of respiratory infection. You’re good to go back to work or school once you’re starting to feel better and you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours. But you should still consider taking precautions (like wearing a mask or staying away from vulnerable people) for another five days, according to the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“It’s no longer one-size-fits-all,” Dr. Saggar says. “Individuals need to consider their risk factors —like age, health conditions, and medication use—as well as if they are in close contact with those with risk factors to develop severe or critical disease.”
As for getting tested? It’s no longer a must, but it’s never a bad idea to know which virus you’re dealing with, Dr. Amler says. Strep throat, for instance, usually requires antibiotics and can lead to serious complications (think: heart or kidney issues) if left untreated. And if you have COVID or the flu, your doctor might recommend meds like Paxlovid or Tamiflu to help you bounce back a little faster and reduce your complication risk, if you have certain underlying conditions (like asthma or diabetes).
You can start with an at-home COVID test, Dr. Saggar recommends. (Order free tests at COVIDTests.gov.) If that comes back negative and you’re still concerned about your symptoms, give your doctor a call. Together, you can decide if and when you should get tested for other illnesses like strep throat or the flu.
When to see a doctor
Most healthy adults don’t need medical care for respiratory viruses. But you should let your doctor know about symptoms that are intense or aren’t letting up. Per the Mayo Clinic, these include:
- Symptoms that keep getting worse, or that aren’t getting better after a few days
- A fever of 101.3 degrees F or higher that lasts for more than three days
- A fever that comes back after being fever-free
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Intense sore throat, headache, or sinus pain
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