Symptoms

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

A high temperature: This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

A new, continuous cough: This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

A loss of or change in sense of smell or taste

What should I do if I get a negative test result?

If you have been self-isolating and you receive a negative COVID-19 test result you can now leave your house.

If you still feel unwell you should phone your GP or GP out-of-hours.

What should I do if I get a positive test result?

If you receive a positive test result you should continue to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of your symptoms or until your temperature returns to normal after the 10 days.

Your household should remain in self-isolation for 14 days from the start of your symptoms. If anyone in your household gets symptoms they should book a test.

If you test positive, you will also be asked to take part in contact tracing to help protect your community. This is when someone from the Public Health Agency rings you to ask about people you have been in contact with. This will prevent the spread of the virus.

Key messages:

• You do not need to go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if your symptoms are manageable.
• If you feel you cannot cope, your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 10 days you should call either 111 or your local GP or GP out-of-hours.
• Self-isolate for 10 days minimum from when your symptoms started.
• Your household needs to self-isolate for 14 days to monitor their own health.

What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms you should self isolate for 10 days from the day your symptoms started. If you live with other people your household should self-isolate for 14 days.

You should also book a test as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways a person with symptoms of the virus can get tested in Northern Ireland. These are:

• book a drive-through test online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• order a postal self-test kit online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
• calling the free phone number 119

Key messages:

• You do not need to go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if your symptoms are manageable.
• If you feel you cannot cope, your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 10 days you should call either 111 or your local GP or GP out-of-hours.
• Self-isolate for 10 days minimum from when your symptoms started
• Your household needs to self-isolate for 14 days and monitor their own health

You should now book a test https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

What to do if you still have COVID-19 symptoms after 10 days of self-isolation?

After 10 days you do not need to self-isolate if you just have a cough. A cough can last for several weeks once the infection has gone. If you continue to feel unwell, and you have not already sought medical advice, you should contact your GP or GP out-of-hours for advice. If your cough gets worse contact your GP or GP out-of-hours for advice.

If you still have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to normal. If you continue to feel unwell and have not already sought medical advice, you should contact your GP or GP out-of-hours for advice.

After any viral infection, the symptoms that you have could linger for a while. This may include being exhausted, muscle soreness or loss of taste / smell. If your symptoms get worse contact your GP or GP out-of-hours for advice.