Since the start of February 2020, COVID-19 has affected not only families but the entire world. COVID-19 is a virus that affects the respiratory system and can spread fast. Now in October 2020, Flu season is fast approaching but during this ongoing pandemic, it may become harder to distinguish between the two viruses. To be sure, and to keep others safe from the potential virus, here are some clues to if you have COVID-19 or The Common Flu.

Veronica Padilla, a nurse at Imagine Prep, stated how keeping students home from the flu by promoting good hygiene and limiting germ share have increased because of COVID-19. Using hand sanitizer and wearing a mask can decrease the spread of Covid, but staying home is recommended whether with Covid or the Flu.

“Germs and students have been BFFs, since the beginning of time, but with Covid, it is a completely different situation,” Padilla said. “The impact of COVID-19, on the whole world is a scary one, but I am grateful to our administration that set an action plan for our school. We want students  to come back to a safe environment where they can have a somewhat normal school year.”

Similarities of COVID-19 and the Flu symptoms include fatigue, fever or chills, coughing, shortness of breath, aches in the body, and a stuffy nose. Though the viruses attack the respiratory system, COVID-19 alone can affect your sense of smell/ taste and cause diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting. 

Sara Camren, a high school biology teacher at Imagine Prep Surprise, explained another way to identify COVID-19 from the Common Flu. 

“COVID-19 can affect the human body differently than the flu, leaving lasting issues while the flu does not typically leave lasting issues months after the virus has left the body,” Camren said. “Often, it takes longer for COVID-19 symptoms to appear (up to two weeks) after being infected, while with the flu, symptoms appear within one to four days after being infected.”

Although the symptoms seem not as bad, it is still important to wear a mask and maintain hygiene to stop the virus from spreading to anyone. To further stop the spread from your own body use face shields with masks to protect your eyes, nose, and mouth from getting infected.

“The only way to know for sure if you have COVID-19 is to get a COVID-19 test done at a testing site, using an at-home mail-in testing kit and following the directions exactly as stated, or going to a healthcare facility that is providing COVID-19 testing,” Camren said “You cannot tell from symptoms alone if you have or do not have COVID-19. It’s better to be safe and get a test than potentially risk exposure to others.”