Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention.
COVID-19 symptoms can include:
a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
shortness of breath
feeling tired or exhausted
an aching body
a headache
a sore throat
a blocked or runny nose
loss of appetite
diarrhoea
feeling sick or being sick
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.
Most people feel better within a few days or weeks of their first COVID-19 symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks. For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.
COVID-19 vaccination is effective and the safest way to protect yourself from COVID-19.
If you’re at increased risk of illness from COVID-19, getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives you good protection and helps to:
reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19
reduce your risk of needing to go to hospital if you catch COVID-19
reduce your risk of catching and spreading COVID-19
protect against different strains (variants) of COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change, and protection fades over time.