What Are the Symptoms of COVID-19?
Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Older adults and individuals of any age with underlying medical conditions, such as lung disease, seem to be at higher risk for developing severe complications from COVID-19.
These symptoms, or combinations of symptoms, generally appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may prompt you to suspect you have COVID-19:
This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are new, severe, or concerning to you.
If you develop symptoms that you think may be COVID-19, test right away. If you have been exposed to someone who is confirmed to have COVID-19, follow the steps here. COVID-19 has similar symptoms to other contagious respiratory illnesses like the flu. Testing is important to confirm which illness you have as well as appropriate treatment.
You can order free at-home tests to have on hand or use this locator to find a no-cost COVID-19 testing site.
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.
Page last updated: October 30, 2024
