DISEASE AND ILLNESS

COVID-19 symptoms can include one or more of the following:

• a new or worsening cough
• sneezing and runny nose
• a fever
• temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• fatigue/feeling of tiredness.

Less common symptoms may include:

• diarrhoea
• headache
• muscle pain or body aches
• nausea
• vomiting
• malaise — a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease
• chest pain
• abdominal pain
• joint pain
• confusion or irritability.

These less common symptoms almost always occur with one or more of the common symptoms.

These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. The symptoms are like other illnesses that are much more common, such as colds and flu.

Shortness of breath is a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention. Call 111 if you’re having difficulty breathing.

The best protection against COVID-19 is the vaccine. It is free for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand aged five or older. It doesn't matter what your visa or citizenship status is.

You can book a vaccine appointment online or over the phone by free-calling 0800 28 29 26.

It’s important to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations — including boosters – as the protection the vaccine provides against the virus decreases over time. You should get vaccinated even if you’ve had COVID-19 already, as you can still catch it again.

Learn more about the vaccine

Most people who get COVID-19 recover from the most serious signs and symptoms within two to four weeks. They normally can return to all activities they were doing before COVID-19 within 12 weeks.

However, some people report a range of symptoms beyond the standard time of recovery, which may mean they have long COVID.

Symptoms of long COVID can last for weeks or sometimes months. They can include:

• fatigue
• breathlessness
• cough
• sore throat
• chest tightness
• chest pain
• difficulty concentrating, cognitive impairment or 'brain fog'
• difficulty sleeping
• pins and needles
• dizziness
• joint pain
• muscle pain

For support with the management and treatment of long COVID, seek help from your doctor or healthcare team. 

Learn more about long COVID.

There are steps we can all take to protect ourselves, our whānau, and our communities against COVID-19.

Keeping up healthy habits will reduce the risk of you spreading the virus or catching it. These include:

1. Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with any booster doses you may need.
2. Wearing a mask when in healthcare settings (this is recommended but not mandated). Masks also provide great protection if you’re in poorly ventilated indoor areas.
3. Staying home if you’re unwell and taking a test as soon as possible. You should also wear a mask when around others if you need to leave your home while you’re unwell.
4. Washing or sanitising your hands regularly and drying them properly.
5. Coughing into your elbow and sneezing into a tissue.

Ventilating indoor spaces also significantly reduces the risk of the virus spreading.