By: Alejandro Chimbo ’23

    Since the world has gone into quarantine, people are so concerned with COVID-19 that they do not seem worried about other illnesses such as the flu and the common cold.    

     According to The Mayo Clinic: COVID-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses that have different time windows for symptoms. The flu has about a 1-4 day window for symptoms to appear, while COVID-19 symptoms take 2-14 days to appear. 

     The flu and COVID-19 symptoms are more similar than one would think. 

     The CDC reported that symptoms can 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 

     The number of symptoms a simple virus can cause is outstanding. 

     “Flu viruses can cause mild to severe illness, including common signs and symptoms listed above.” said the CDC. “COVID-19 seems to cause more serious illnesses in some people. Other signs and symptoms of COVID-19, different from flu, may include a change in or loss of taste or smell.”

    If you have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if you experience any of the symptoms, your best bet is to get tested and err on the side of caution.