FALSE: DO NOT SHARE
CLAIM:
“There is a clear 7-day symptom pattern which people experience when infected with COVID-19.”
ANSWER:
There is no clear symptom pattern but you should not wait to seek medical attention if you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
Further Information
This social media post claims that there are a clear and obvious sequential chain of observable symptoms that show COVID-19 infection in a sufferer. The post advises that if these symptoms occur you should wait until the 8th day before seeking medical assistance.
This is false. COVID-19 is associated with a wide range of symptoms and it will express itself differently in different people. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the most common symptoms are fever, dry cough and tiredness. Less commonly observed symptoms are aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell, a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes. Serious potentially life-threatening symptoms are: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure and loss of speech or movement.
You should not wait day 8 to seek medical attention. The WHO advises that, “people with fever, cough or difficulty breathing should seek immediate medical attention.” In the UK, the NHS says that if you have, ‘a high temperature or a new, continuous cough, or loss of taste or smell you should not leave your home and go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital, but use the 111 coronavirus service’.
On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days. Infection by the coronavirus [SAR-CoV-2] can also be asymptomatic (without any noticeable symptoms) in some people.
SOURCES
NHS: Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms
NHS 111 COVID-19 – check your systems