Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Symptoms and treatment
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COVID-19 symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 can vary from person to person. They may also vary in different age groups.
Some of the more commonly reported symptoms include:
- new or worsening cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- temperature equal to or over 38°C
- feeling feverish
- chills
- fatigue or weakness
- muscle or body aches
- new loss of smell or taste
- headache
- gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting)
- feeling very unwell
Children tend to have abdominal symptoms and skin changes or rashes.
Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19.
You can infect others even if you aren’t showing symptoms
The virus can be spread to others from someone who’s infected but not showing symptoms. This includes people who:
- haven’t yet developed symptoms (pre-symptomatic)
- never develop symptoms (asymptomatic)
This kind of spread is known to happen among those who are in close contact or are in enclosed or crowded settings.
Think you may have been exposed to COVID-19? Follow the advice on how to quarantine at home when you may have been exposed but have no symptoms.
If you're travelling with or without symptoms, be aware of what’s expected of you when entering Canada.
- Quarantine instructions for travellers without symptoms of COVID-19 returning to Canada
- Isolation instructions for travellers with COVID-19 symptoms returning to Canada
If you’re sick or caring for someone who’s sick
If you’re experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19:
- contact your local public health authority and
- isolate yourself at home for 14 days to avoid spreading it to others
Most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own.
Adults and children who have mild COVID-19 symptoms are able to stay at home with a caregiver throughout their recovery without needing hospitalization. If you’re a caregiver, follow the advice on how to care for someone with COVID-19 at home.
Getting tested
The only way to confirm you have COVID-19 is through a laboratory test.
Take a self-assessment to find out if you should be tested.
If you're waiting for a test result, isolate at home, whether you have symptoms or not.
If you’ve tested positive
If you've received a positive test result for COVID-19, you must isolate at home, whether you have symptoms or not. Remain isolated for up to 14 days or as directed by your local public health authority.
If you didn’t have symptoms when you got tested but develop them during your isolation period, you must restart your isolation time as directed by the local public health authority.
COVID Alert
Consider downloading and using the COVID Alert app. It can let people know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear.
If the app notifies you about potential exposure, you should follow the guidance from your local public health authority.
You can help slow the spread of infection and prevent future outbreaks.
Treating COVID-19
If you’re concerned about your symptoms, self-monitor for any changes and consult your health care provider. They may recommend steps you can take to relieve your symptoms.
People who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and need breathing assistance may be treated with dexamethasone.
We’ve authorized certain products to treat COVID-19 and its symptoms.
Certain medications can also help to ease symptoms like fever and cough.
Learn more about treatments being developed for COVID-19.
What COVID-19 information do you need?
- ArriveCAN
- Use ArriveCAN to enter Canada
- What to do after you've arrived in Canada
- How to use ArriveCAN
- Check requirements for entering Canada
- Your privacy and ArriveCAN
- Additional questions about ArriveCAN
- Travel
- Find out if you can travel to Canada
- Travel restrictions in Canada
- Quarantine and isolation for travellers
- Compassionate exemptions
- Registration of Canadians Abroad service
- Check if you have been exposed during recent travel
- I am a Canadian travelling abroad and I need support. Who can I contact?
- I am a traveller trying to return home to Canada. How do I get financial support while abroad?
- Income support
- Health and safety
- Prevention and risks
- COVID-19 vaccines overview
- Vaccine distribution
- Vaccine safety and possible side effects
- Authorized vaccines
- What is my risk of getting COVID-19 in Canada?
- Difference between quarantine vs isolate
- Physical distancing and how it helps minimize COVID-19
- How can I go out safely during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Surface contamination
- Which people are at risk of severe outcomes?
- Pregnancy and risks related to COVID-19
- Can COVID-19 be transmitted through food?
- Can my pet or other animals get sick from this virus?
- Hygiene
- Wearing masks
- Can COVID-19 spread while swimming in lakes and pools?
- Can COVID-19 spread through sex?
- Symptoms and treatment
- Reduce COVID-19 in your community
- What can I do to care for my mental and physical health?
- Drug and medical device supply monitoring
- For clinical trial sponsors
- Prevention and risks
- Additional economic and financial support
- Individuals
- Individuals and families
- People with disabilities
- Post-secondary students and recent graduates
- Seniors
- Indigenous peoples
- Supporting Indigenous communities
- Boosting the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program
- Funding for additional health care resources for Indigenous communities
- Expanding and improving access to mental wellness services
- Making personal hygiene products and nutritious food more affordable
- Providing support to Indigenous post-secondary students
- Ensuring a safe return to school for First Nations
- New shelters to protect and support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence
- Support for businesses
- Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
- Taxes and tariffs
- Financial support, loans and access to credit
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans
- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
- Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- Canada United Small Business Relief Fund
- Mid-Market Financing Program
- Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
- Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
- Additional support by sector
- Targeted support
- Self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Supporting financial stability
- Support for sectors
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe
- Increasing credit availability
- Protecting the health and safety of farm workers
- Helping producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19
- Increasing the Canadian Dairy Commission borrowing limit
- Increasing interim payments from 50% to 75% through AgriStability
- Expanding AgriInsurance to include labour shortage
- Additional support for your business
- Aquaculture and fisheries
- Cultural, heritage and sport
- Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations
- Support for Independent production companies
- Supporting Canada’s six national museums and the National Battlefields Commission
- Helping the National Arts Centre continue its operations
- Waiving payments for Part I licence fees
- Additional support for your business
- Air transportation
- Tourism
- Energy
- Academic and research
- Infrastructure
- Mining
- Infrastructure
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Organizations helping Canadians
- Services to those in need
- Seniors
- People who need it most
- Helping address urgent housing needs of vulnerable individuals
- Supporting people experiencing homelessness
- Supporting women and children fleeing violence
- Providing youth with mental health support
- Supporting public health efforts through the Canadian Red Cross
- Additional support for your organization
- People with disabilities
- Provinces and territories
- People who need it most
- Health
- Economy
- Education
- Individuals
- About COVID-19
- E-mail updates on COVID-19
- Current confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Canada
- More details about the cases reported in Canada
- How does it spread?
- Where can I get information specific to my province or territory?
- How governments are working together
- How can I make a difference in Canada’s COVID-19 response efforts?
- Resources for parents and children
- Resources for youth, students and young adults
- Resources for seniors and their caregivers
- Resources for Indigenous communities
- People with disabilities
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