COVID-19 Symptoms, Preventing Risk and Getting Help

COVID-19 health advice for the public – Ministry of Health

Symptoms:

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are like those found with illnesses such as a cold or influenza. You may have one or more of the following:

* new or worsening cough

* sneezing and runny nose

* fever

* temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste

* sore throat

* shortness of breath

Less common symptoms of COVID-19 may include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain or confusion/irritability. These almost always occur with one or more of the common symptoms.

Preventing the risk:

To help understand what actions are important and when, here are the crucial things to remember:

* the virus spreads through the air

* indoor spaces with poor ventilation are hot spots for transmission

* people can be infectious before they know they are infected.

Key ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 are getting vaccinated and using your vaccine pass, staying home if you're sick, wearing a mask, recording your movements, improving air ventilation indoors, physical distancing and using basic hygeine.

Go to the Ministry of Health website for more information about preventing the risk:

Covid-19

Getting help:

If you think you have COVID-19 call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or talk to your doctor.

Read more about COVID-19 assessment and testing.

Health advice and virus prevention information is available on the Ministry of Health website:

MOH Advice for people with COVID-19