Understanding Their Similarities and Differences
COVID-19 and the common cold share similar symptoms.
How then can you tell if you haveCOVID-19or the common cold?
Common Cold vs. COVID-19
Thecommon coldand COVID-19 share symptoms.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
The common cold is most often because of rhinoviruses, while SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19.
Some coronaviruses other than SARS-CoV2 can cause the common cold.
For the common cold, the incubation period is relatively short, usually one to three days.
For COVID-19, the incubation period can range anywhere from two to 14 days.
This can include 15 minutes at a given time or over a 24-hour period.
As well, your healthcare provider may test you for influenza.
COVID-19 testscan detect SARS-CoV-2, or antibodiesthat your body makes after getting COVID-19 or getting vaccinated.
Tests for SARS-CoV-2 tell you if you have an infection at the time of the test.
This bang out of test is called a viral test because it looks for viral infection.
Examples of viral tests includeantigen(pieces of viral protein) andnucleic acid amplification tests(NAATs).
Both are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may be covered by your insurance.
A healthcare professional will take a sample of cells from your nose, mouth, or throat.
Same-day laboratory tests are also available in certain locations but may require a fee.
At-home rapid antigen testsare also widely available.
If you have a positive home antigen test, contact a healthcare provider for advice on treatment.
In mid-2020, the FDA approved at-home PCR test kits.
Rapid vs. ## Treatment
The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated before you are infected.
These steps are also effective in relieving common cold symptoms.
All treatments for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 should be prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Taking products that are not approved could harm your body or cause death.
Remember, a healthcare provider will decide the best course of treatment for you.
COVID-19 tests tell you if you have an infection in real time by looking for viral infection.
However, getting vaccinated is the best protection.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
The CDC recommends taking measures to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases.
However, they can linger for as long as three weeks in some cases.
How longCOVID-19stays in the body varies from person to person.
Generally, people are no longer contagious about 10 days after the onset of symptoms.
As of January 2025, over 1.2 million COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the United States.
By comparison, over 7.1 million individuals had died from COVID-19 worldwide by January 2025.
For a list of participating vaccine sites in your town or city, visitvaccines.gov.
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