Winter is here in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing a new wave of COVID-19 infections, seasonal flu and other viruses that take advantage of risk factors such as high humidity, temperature variations and Vitamin D deficiency. 

 How do you differentiate Covid-19 from seasonal flu? 

• Covid-19 stays in the body for 2 weeks or more, whilst seasonal flu only lasts a few days. Unlike the flu, Covid-19 can cause very high fever and breathing difficulties. 
• Prolonged dry cough can also be a sign of Covid-19, which may have started mildly but gets worse after 5 to 7 days. 
• During the pandemic, we were advised to wash our hands regularly and to avoid touching our faces. One of the reasons for this is that Covid-19 can cause infection in your eyes, which can lead to Conjunctivitis (pink eye), excessive tearing, or blurred vision. 
• Covid-19 can also affect the heart, causing heart palpitations and tightness in the chest. 
• Extreme fatigue despite adequate sleep or rest can be a sign of Covid-19 infection. 
• The Covid-19 virus can also affect smell and taste. Almost 80% of people with Covid-19 lose their sense of smell and their ability to taste food and drinks. 

Upon noticing early symptoms of flu or Covid-19, it is best to isolate yourself at home and take a Covid-19 test. 

Vulnerable people must keep their Covid-19 vaccination status up-to-date for better protection against the virus. 

Keep safe everyone! 

5th December 2022