COVID-19 symptoms in 2023 remain similar to earlier variants and typically include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea
. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus
. The duration of COVID-19 symptoms varies. Most people experience symptoms for about 1 to 4 weeks, with mild to moderate cases usually recovering within approximately 2 weeks. Severe cases may take longer, sometimes up to 12 weeks or more
. Some individuals develop long COVID, where symptoms persist for weeks or months beyond the initial infection, often lasting at least 4 weeks and sometimes 12 weeks or longer. Common long COVID symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, brain fog, and mood changes
. Vaccination may reduce the severity of symptoms and speed recovery, but the overall duration of symptoms does not differ significantly between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
. Emergency warning signs requiring immediate medical attention include trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, and pale or blue-tinged skin, lips, or nails
. In summary:
- Common symptoms: fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea.
- Symptom onset: 2–14 days after exposure.
- Typical duration: 1–4 weeks; mild cases ~2 weeks, severe cases up to 12 weeks.
- Long COVID: symptoms lasting beyond 4 weeks, sometimes 12 weeks or more.
- Seek emergency care if: severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion, or inability to stay awake.
This reflects current understanding as of 2023-2025
