TYH: COVID-19 or the Flu? What you need to know heading into flu season

Dr.Rakel Kling says that while it may be difficult there are key things to look for when trying to tell the difference. For COVID-19 a common symptom is the loss of taste and smell, while for the flu a fever, muscle aches and a general sense of feeling unwell are more common.

Symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever
Chills
Cough or worsening of chronic cough
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Runny nose
Loss of sense of smell or taste
Headache
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle aches

“This fall it’s going to be really important that anyone who’s sick should stay home,” said Dr. Kling in a Zoom interview. “It’s really important that people stay home and get well before going back to work or going back to school,” she added.

“It’s definitely really good to be prepared.”—Dr. Rakel Kling, Medical Health Officer, Northern Health

As fall and winter quickly approach Dr. Kling adds that it might not be a bad idea to be prepared so that if you do get sick, whether it’s the cold, flu, or COVID-19 , you’re able to stay home until you get better.

“Make sure you have the prescriptions that you need so that you don’t have to go into a pharmacy where there’s a lot of other people waiting to get their medications…maybe set up a food delivery (if stores in your area offer food delivery service)”

Northern Health adds that continuing to follow health and safety guidelines given by the provincial health officer, such as washing your hands, wearing a mask and social distancing, will be crucial as we head into the coming months. If you do develop symptoms of COVID-19 northerners are encouraged to contact Northern Health for testing.

by Veronica Beltran

TYH: COVID-19 or the Flu? What you need to know heading into flu season

Symptoms of COVID-19:

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