A HIGH temperature and a new, continuous cough are the two main symptoms of coronavirus.
Most people with these Covid-19 signs will recover without needing any extra help – but will need to self-isolate for at least seven days.
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However, for an estimated one in five people with the illness, hospital care will prove necessary.
Currently, the NHS is urging people not to go to their GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital and to stay at home – to curb the spread of the disease and protect others.
But they say if you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, your condition gets worse or you do not recover within seven days you should call NHS 111 or use the NHS 111 online service.
Dr Claudia Pastides, a GP working with online private doctor app Babylon, told Huffington Post that you should seek medical advice if you develop an increasing shortness of breath – which makes it difficult for you to do normal things without feeling breathless.
And she warned you should get help for coronavirus if you begin feeling so ill that you can’t carry out your usual daily activities like having a shower, watching TV or preparing a meal.
There may also be more urgent cases and if you have a medical emergency you should call 999 for an ambulance and notify the operator that you – or the person you're caring for – have or think you might have, Covid-19.
The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) says that you should get medical attention immediately if you develop emergency warning signs for Covid-19. These include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
Patients who are usually older or have a pre-existing health conditions are normally the people who experience difficulty breathing – known as dyspnea.
Signs that a person is experiencing dyspnea include shortness of breath, feeling smothered or suffocated, tightness in the chest, rapid, shallow breathing, heart palpitations and wheezing.
Patients with severe cases of coronavirus may also develop signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
According to the NHS, this is a life-threatening condition where the lungs can't provide the body's vital organs with enough oxygen.
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ARDS occurs when the lungs become severely inflamed due to an infection or injury and the inflammation causes fluid from nearby blood vessels to leak into the tiny air sacs in your lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult.
Symptoms of ARDS can include severe shortness of breath, rapid, shallow breathing, tiredness, drowsiness or confusion and feeling faint.
About 15 per cent of cases develop this, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Anyone who thinks they’ve been fighting coronavirus and has ended up with symptoms of ARDS should also call an ambulance.
Ultimately, if you’re worried about any symptoms and they’re becoming worse, not better, don’t be afraid to seek help.
Currently, there is no vaccine to protect people against the virus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses – only bacteria.
Doctors say mild or moderate symptoms can be managed at home by getting rest, keeping hydrated and taking paracetamol where necessary.
Some people might not even show any symptoms of coronavirus at all, experts say.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, said: "It looks quite likely that there is some degree of asymptomatic transmission.
"There’s definitely quite a lot of transmission very early in the disease when there are very mild symptoms."
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