With allergy season beginning, it is important to understand the differences between COVID-19 symptoms and seasonal allergy symptoms. COVID-19 and allergies share similar symptoms, including cough, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat.
Unlike COVID-19, seasonal allergies are an immune response triggered by environmental allergens such as pollen. These symptoms can occur any time, but are especially frequent in the spring and summer months when pollen production is highest. Allergies are not viral or contagious.
While sore throat and cough often occur with both seasonal allergies and COVID-19, a number of other symptoms can offer clues as to which you are experiencing. Common symptoms of COVID-19—such as fever and chills—are rarely associated with seasonal allergies. Similarly, watery eyes are a frequent symptom of seasonal allergies but not of COVID-19.
The Washington Department of Health (DOH) has produced this infographic to help individuals understand whether they are experiencing flu, cold, allergy, or COVID-19 symptoms. This information is currently available in the following languages: Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Chuukese, Dari, Farsi, Fijian, French, German, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Karen, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Marshallese, Mixteco Bajo, Nepali, Oromo, Palauan, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tigrinya, Tongan, Ukrainian, Urdu and Vietnamese and can be found here.
More information on allergies and COVID-19 can be found on this post provided by DOH.
If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, take a test and follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for isolation and quarantine. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and getting your boosters remain the best ways to protect yourself and your community.