Flu, cold, or COVID-19? Memorial physician explains the differences

With the recent spike in the omicron variant, the team at Memorial is here to explain the differences between the common cold, the flu, or COVID-19.

Dr. Kerry Scott with Memorial Physician says these three illnesses can be quite similar in many ways. First, they are all viruses so symptoms may be the same.

Common symptoms for these illnesses include fever, sinus congestion, body aches, and chills.

However, COVID-19 often produces more severe versions of the symptoms such as intense nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms for COVID often occur a lot quicker than the common cold or flu.

Blood clot developments, strokes, and heart attacks occur later on from COVID symptoms as well. Dr. Scott said, “Yeah especially if you’re not vaccinated, I do recommend you do get tested, and that way you are protecting your family and those that you are around as well too. The omicron variant is here now, so we are seeing more variations in the virus so it’s important to get tested so we can at least get this under control.”

The CDC guidelines now say if you test positive you only have to quarantine for five days instead of ten.