How long does covid infection last?

Symptoms may begin with fever, cough, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, headache, body aches, or a change in smell or taste. Improvement is usually gradual rather than sudden. Feeling well enough to resume one activity does not always mean your energy has fully returned.

Some people continue to experience fatigue, joint pain, low mood, or difficulty concentrating after the initial illness. Ongoing symptoms do not automatically mean that the infection is still active. Read about [COVID-19](/conditions/covid-19/) and [Long COVID](/conditions/long-covid/) if symptoms continue or affect daily life.

Rest when symptoms are active, drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale, and return to normal activity in small steps. Avoid pushing through a marked increase in tiredness. Follow local advice about staying away from others while you are unwell, and improve ventilation when sharing indoor space.

Keep a simple record of symptoms and energy. This can show whether you are improving, fluctuating, or developing a new problem. Loss of smell, loss of taste, and fatigue can be followed separately because each may recover at a different pace.

Seek urgent help for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, new confusion, fainting, blue or grey lips, or an inability to stay awake. Contact a clinician promptly if breathing is getting harder, fever returns after improvement, you cannot keep fluids down, or symptoms are steadily worsening.

Arrange a review when symptoms do not start settling, interfere with work or usual activities, or recur after you felt better. A clinician can assess your symptoms and consider other causes rather than assuming every ongoing symptom is COVID-19.

Ask: Which symptoms should improve first? When is it sensible for me to increase activity? Could my medicines or another condition be affecting recovery? What follow-up is appropriate if fatigue, joint pain, or concentration problems remain?