COVID or Cold: Quick Ways to Tell Them Apart

Feeling miserable and not sure if it’s a cold or COVID? You’re not alone. Both can give you a runny nose, sore throat and tiredness, but a few key clues can help you figure it out fast. The right answer lets you act the right way – whether that means a simple home remedy or getting a test.

Spot the Main Symptom Differences

First, look at your fever. A cold usually sticks around a low‑grade fever or none at all, while COVID often brings a higher temperature (38 °C or more) that shows up early. Loss of taste or smell is another red flag for COVID – it’s rare with a regular cold. If you notice a sudden, sharp loss of smell, even if your nose feels fine, think COVID.

Second, check the kind of cough you have. A cold cough is typically dry or a mild “hacking” sound that eases after a few days. COVID cough can be deeper, more persistent, and sometimes brings a lot of mucus. When you’re coughing up thick, discolored mucus without other cold signs, it could be a sign of a lingering infection – maybe COVID or another respiratory bug.

What to Do When You’re Unsure

When symptoms overlap, the safest move is to get a rapid COVID test. In the UK you can order a self‑test online or visit a local pharmacy. If the test is negative but you still feel rough, treat it like a cold: rest, stay hydrated, and use over‑the‑counter meds for pain or fever.

If the test comes back positive, follow the current NHS guidelines – isolate for at least five days, monitor your health, and seek medical help if you develop difficulty breathing, chest pain, or a high fever that won’t drop.

Even if you test negative, keep an eye on any new symptoms. Some people get a false‑negative early on, so retesting after 48 hours is a good idea if you’re still not better.

Beyond testing, protect the people around you. Wear a mask in indoor public places, keep windows open for fresh air, and wash your hands often. These habits cut the spread of both COVID and the common cold.

Bottom line: Fever over 38 °C, sudden loss of smell/taste, and a deep lingering cough point to COVID. Mild fever, runny nose, and a light cough usually mean a cold. When in doubt, test, rest, and stay smart about isolation. That way you’ll feel better faster and keep everyone else safer.