Is Your Cold Actually COVID? What to Know as the Summer Surge Begins

Symptoms of COVID-19 and the Common Cold Can Be Hard to Tell Apart

Recognizing whether you have COVID-19 or a summer cold can be almost impossible.

“There aren’t a whole lot of distinguishing features between COVID and the common cold — or the flu, for that matter, which thankfully is not going around yet,” says Geeta Sood, MD, an an infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

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The signs of these respiratory infections overlap, and can include:

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Runny nose
Sore throat
Cough
Congestion
Fatigue
Fever

Some strains of COVID-19 may trigger more distinct, severe symptoms. Although latest tracking shows XFG (aka stratus) to be the predominant variant in the United States now, NB.1.8.1 (nimbus) remains in circulation, and that variant has been associated with intense throat soreness, or “razor blade throat.”

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In the past, some strains have also been linked to a loss of taste or smell, which is rarely a sign of the common cold. But Dr. Sood notes that this symptom is not seen as often as it once was.

Should You Get a COVID Test?

While cold-like symptoms may be a sign you actually have COVID-19, the only conclusive way to diagnose the virus is through testing.

Most people recuperate from COVID-19 and the common cold the same way — with rest, hydration, and other supportive care — so may not see the point in testing. But that thinking comes with risks.

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Long says it’s particularly important to know whether or not you have COVID-19 if you are in a group that is vulnerable to complications from infections, like seniors.

But even if you’re basically healthy, by knowing your COVID status through testing, you may be more compelled to avoid contact with those likely to become critically ill.

For people at higher risk of severe COVID, Long notes that treatments for COVID-19 like Paxlovid, Veklury, and Lageviro can make a difference.

“Those antivirals can lessen the chances of more serious illness downstream,” he says.

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The key with these medications, though, is to start them early, within five to seven days of when symptoms first appear.

Sood adds that the treatments may also help protect against long COVID, which may lead to various types of health problems months or even years after a person first gets the infection.

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From a public health standpoint, reporting test results can also help determine if infection rates are climbing and identify where the virus may be spreading.

Preventive Measures, Especially for the Most Vulnerable

The CDC recommends taking preventive steps to help reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, especially for those most susceptible to dire health consequences and those in contact with these people:

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Practice good hygiene, including thorough and regular hand-washing.
Stay home when sick.
Put distance between yourself and others.
Avoid crowded, confined areas.
Consider wearing a mask in settings where you may be close to others.
Keep up with the latest COVID vaccinations to lower your risk of severe illness.

Should You Get Vaccinated Now?

An updated formula for the COVID vaccine is expected to roll out in the fall, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The updated shot will target the XFG strain.

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“For most healthy people, given that the new COVID-19 vaccine is imminent, it seems reasonable to await the newest formulation,” says Gohil.

For some people, however, vaccination protection may be waning at this point, and those with weaker defenses in particular may want to consult with a physician and receive a booster shot now, advises Sood.

“For people who are particularly at high risk, it may be worth getting vaccinated now because it takes a week to two weeks for the vaccine to truly create a positive response to help prevent severe disease,” she says. “These vaccines are safe and effective, and you can still get the new formula when it becomes available later on.”