Patients who get sick with COVID-19 develop mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- fever
- cough
- difficulty breathing
Many common illnesses can cause these same symptoms. COVID-19 can only be diagnosed at a public health laboratory. Individuals who have these symptoms and have traveled to China or have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be seen by a doctor or medical professional.
CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.