Thanks to the extremely contagious Omicron variate presently making its way through the population , the average risk of contractingCOVID-19is probably higher than it ’s ever been since the beginning of the pandemic . And with cold , flu , and the original recipe Delta variant all circulate , it can be hard to hash out what may have you feeling poorly .
Fortunately , there ’s a shaft for that .
Using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) online coronavirusself - checkercan be a good first dance step in tax your condition .
To use the convenience , you ’ll plainly do a serial of questions have-to doe with to your current symptoms . It works a chip like a chatbot , only the CDC is n’t judge to concern you in a new auto . rather , the CDC will assess where in the country you are ( to determine whether there ’s a ear in case ) ; yourvaccinationstatus ; age ; gender ; any urgent symptoms like bother breathing ; potential close contact with a person who has test positive ; pre - existing conditions ; and other data point . The checker will then maneuver you on whether to search aesculapian attention , examination , or other best practices .
The dick is recommended for those 13 and older or minor 2 to 12 who have a parent or guardian share-out answers . The CDC ’s self - checker is obviously not a switch for aesculapian attention , but it may help provide some pellucidity in a season nurse a mixed bag of respiratory virus .
While it ’s still too early for scientist to make any firm conclusions about the feature and severity of the Omicron variant , it does appear that itssymptomsmay vary slenderly from earlier COVID-19 edition . Omicron affected role often account a runny nose , raw throat , and nasal congestion ; fever and coughing , common in Delta , may be less dominant . Loss of smell and mouthful , once a hallmark of coronavirus , also appear to be less prevalent in Omicron ; severe respiratory malady may also be less likely , though experts warn it ’s still too early to draw any firm conclusions .
If you ’ve involve a COVID-19 at - habitation test , call back that ’s it ’s a right practice toreportit to your local department of health to help keep an accurate counting of cause in your region .
