How long does COVID take to go?

Early symptoms may include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches, or marked tiredness. These can improve in different orders, so one lingering symptom does not necessarily mean the whole illness is worsening.

Some people have a stop-start recovery: energy returns, then drops after too much activity. Smell and taste changes, difficulty concentrating, joint pain, and low mood may remain after other symptoms have settled. If symptoms continue or interfere with daily life, Long COVID and other explanations may need assessment.

Sleep and rest when your body asks for them, drink regularly, and choose gentle movement only when it does not cause a setback. Break chores into smaller tasks and leave space between activities rather than trying to catch up on a good day.

Eat what you can tolerate and take care with medicines: check labels for duplicate ingredients and ask a pharmacist if you have other conditions or take regular treatment. Reduce close contact while acutely unwell and use ventilation around others.

Contact a clinician if you are getting worse, cannot keep fluids down, develop a new problem after improving, or remain unable to manage ordinary activities. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pressure, fainting, new confusion, inability to stay awake, or blue or grey lips or skin.

Ask what recovery milestones are reasonable for you, how to restart exercise or work, and whether persistent symptoms need examination. Describe your baseline health, the date symptoms began, and what activity makes you feel worse.