News Flash

Similarities

Differences

Both COVID-19 and flu can have varying degrees of signs and symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle pain or body aches
• Headache
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

COVID-19 may make you experience a change in or loss of taste or smell, which can be a more definite sign that you have this virus.

Similarities

Differences

For both COVID-19 and flu, 1 or more days can pass between when a person becomes infected and when he or she starts to experience illness symptoms.

COVID-19
A person who develops COVID usually sees symptoms 5 days after being infected, but symptoms can appear as early as 2 days after infection or as late as 14 days after infection. The time range can vary from person to person.

FLU
A person who develops the flu usually sees symptoms anywhere from 1 to 4 days after infection.

Similarities

Differences

For both COVID-19 and flu, it’s possible to spread the virus for at least 1 day before experiencing any symptoms

COVID-19
It’s possible for people to spread the virus for about 2 days before experiencing signs or symptoms and remain contagious for at least 10 days after signs or symptoms first appeared. If someone is asymptomatic or their symptoms go away, it’s possible to remain contagious for at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

FLU

• Most people with flu are contagious for about 1 day before they show symptoms.
• Older children and adults with flu appear to be most contagious during the initial 3-4 days of their illness but many remain contagious for about 7 days.
• Infants and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for even longer.