Other symptoms

As well as the two main symptoms, individuals are asked to look out for any of the following symptoms, as these may be an indicator that they have COVID-19:

• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty in breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• A loss of taste or smell
• Change in the colour of the toes
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea.

Some individuals may have just one of these symptoms, whereas some may have several. The impact that the symptoms have on an individual can depend on many factors such as their age, if they have any existing health conditions and how much of the virus they have inside them – this is referred to as a ‘viral load’ and is thought to be potentially higher in people who work with individuals who are known to have COVID-19, such as health and social care professionals.

Symptoms in children

Interestingly, it is thought that COVID-19 may present with additional or different symptoms in children, which may include:

• A rash
• Red, cracked lips
• Red eyes
• Swelling of the feet or hands
• Joint pain
• Dizziness
• Vision problems.

Again, problems come about because so many symptoms for children are like other illnesses and so may be mistaken for something else, which can lead to a delay in treatment and possible longer-term effects.