Symptoms

(27th February 2022)

Symptoms of the Corona virus occur from one to seven days after a person has been infected. Most have symptoms after two to four days.

Common symptoms

Usually the symptoms are similar to those of influenza, such as a sore throat, aching muscles, a dry cough and fever. For this reason, it can also be difficult to distinguish between a normal cold or flu and the COVID19 virus, and professional medical care will not usually be needed if the symptoms are not more serious than this.

Others develop more serious symptoms. After four to seven days, coughing can become worse, fever can increase and breathing can become difficult. Some may develop such severe pneumonia that they need to be hospitalised.

The common symptoms include:

• Dry cough
• Wet cough
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Loss of sense of smell
• Loss of sense og taste
• Blocked or runny nose
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain, joint pain or body pain

If you are experiencing severe symptoms, we urge you to call your GP. After opening hours you should call the after-hours GP service on 1870. It is important that you get tested as soon as possible. 

Course of disease

How long the symptoms last can also vary. For those with mild cold or flu symptoms, these will usually disappear after two to six days, while others may have symptoms for longer.

So far on the global level, most of those infected have had mild flu symptoms, while proportionally few people have become ill enough to require hospitalisation.