Runny nose? Headache? You may need COVID test. Here’s what Kansas Citians need to know
Fever, cough and loss of smell or taste are the classic symptoms of COVID-19. But variants, including omicron, come with different symptoms that might make you think you have a cold.
A runny nose, sneezing, headache, fatigue and a sore throat were the most common early symptoms among London residents who tested positive for both the delta and omicron variants. Some people also reported brain fog and loss of appetite.
The only way to know? You have to get tested. You can find a list of free testing sites here. At-home tests are also available at some grocery stores and pharmacies.
Health officials in Wyandotte County — where the metro’s first cases from the omicron variant were detected — say you should get tested if:
▪ You are sick, especially since symptoms can mimic the flu, a cold or allergies.
▪ .You have been exposed to COVID-19, meaning you were in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Get tested about five days after the exposure.
▪ You will be traveling soon or have recently returned from traveling — especially if you are unvaccinated.
▪ You will be attending a large gathering/event, or have recently attended a large gathering/event. Once again, especially important for the unvaccinated.
“The trick is you’re not going to be able to tell the difference between omicron, delta, lambda, plain COVID from the beginning,” Dr. Emily Landon, chief hospital epidemiologist at University of Chicago Medicine, told NBC Chicago.
“Influenza or even common rhinovirus causes most of our common colds in the winter. You’re not going to know the difference between those if you just look at your symptoms.”
“For many people, those symptoms are overlapping. You’re just not going to know especially at the beginning of an illness, what kind of illness you have. You have to get tested.”
This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 5:38 PM.
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