Is it possible that you may have already been infected with, and survived the coronavirus? Health officials say that the answer could be “yes.”
While cities across the nation have only recently gone on “lockdown,” health officials around the world are now saying that COVID-19 has actually been spreading in the US and other places since January. Which means those cold and flu symptoms you may have been experiencing in the beginning of the year, could have actually been COVID-19.
WHO and the CDC are now saying that the killer bug could have been circulating “for months” before the first cases outside of China were reported. This has left many people wondering (myself included) whether they might have actually already had coronavirus.
Now that we know that coronavirus started spreading in countries earlier than people were really tracking it – the theory that some people may have already been infected with the virus and recovered isn’t such an outrageous one.
In particular, you may find you have already experienced one — or more — of the main symptoms associated with coronavirus at the start of the year – indicating you could have had Covid-19. My wife and I both had these symptoms in late January, and they lasted well into mid-February. We were diagnosed with “bronchitis” and put on antibiotics that did not seem to do much – and in retrospect – that makes sense if it was a viral infection like COVID-19.
Here, are some of the signs that may indicate you already had coronavirus earlier this year.
- A Dry Cough
A dry persistent cough is a “classic” symptom of coronavirus, according to the CDC. It is considered a symptom if the cough is new for you and persistent. In other words, not a “smokers hack,” if you smoke, or merely the need to clear your thought. It is a constant cough that lasts for days or more.
- A High Temperature
A fever is a key symptom of coronavirus, the experts say. The CDC says you don’t need to fixate on a number, but know it’s really not a fever until your temperature reaches at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit for children and adults. They say you can tell if you have a fever when you feel hot to touch on your chest or back.
- Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath can be a third – and very serious – manifestation of Covid-19, and it can occur on its own, without a cough. If your chest becomes tight or you begin to feel as if you cannot breathe deeply enough to get a good breath, that’s a sign to act, experts say.
- Stomachache
If you had a bad stomach earlier this year you might have just had a bug like norovirus. But some Covid-19 patients have reported experiencing a stomachache just before developing the other known symptoms.
- Loss of taste/smell
If you previously lost your sense of taste and smell you could have already had coronavirus. The British Association of Otorhinolaryngology says that patients who do not have a fever or a cough, could show a loss of smell or taste after contracting the deadly bug. In a statement, the British doctors said, ” There is evidence from other countries that the entry point for the coronavirus is often in the eyes, nose and throat areas.” It’s thought that losing the ability to smell or taste could be due to the virus destroying cells in the nose and throat.
- Fatigue
Another symptom that coronavirus patients have reported is feeling extremely fatigued before symptoms develop. According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, up to 44 per cent of those hospitalized with Covid-19 reported exhaustion and fatigue.
Of course, the symptoms on this list add up to many other conditions, such as cold, flu, or even seasonal allergies. So, if you had them earlier this year, it certainly does not mean that you indeed had COVID-19, but health experts are no longer ruling that out as a possibility.
Can a person be tested to see if they have had the Virus?
I live in MN. Myself and 8 friends have had these symptoms and more which convinces all of us that we have had this virus. The 3 smokers were very sick for about 10 days. The rest of us were sick for a couple days and quickly recovered. Common sense reasoning would have me believe that many of the people in the US and World have already kicked this virus. How many? Who can tell? Maybe 1/2 of the population? Given the speed of transmission and length/variability of incubation time would support at least some of this idea. None of us had time to get a test and in reality would not have anyway. We got over it and we got back to work. Thanks!
My allergy to oak pollen even with regular monthly shots. Sinus not uncommon. No fever.
Considering I am 82 doing pretty well.
My sisters and I had these symptoms in late December an throughout January. One sister asked her doctor who said there was something going around but they didn’t know what it was. Another sister described the symptoms to her doctor who feels she had covid. That sister had collapsed in the supermarket and was brought to hospital. She was rehydrated and sent home. I remember seeing pictures from China where people were collapsing in the street. The worst was the debilitating fatigue. Hope I have had it and have the antibodies to donate plasma to other patients.
I live in TN, got sick with a persistent cough, slight fever and extreme fatigue in late October. I went to the Dr and was diagnosed with bronchitis, given a antibiotic and steroids. I took all of the antibiotics but did not take the steroids. I don’t handle those well so decided to just try the antibiotic. I still felt fatigued after finishing the antibiotic and continued to feel sick going into November. My cough had become 10 times worse and the fatigue was unbearable. I was calling in sick to work simply because I didn’t have the energy go get ready. On Wednesday before Thanksgiving I felt horrible but went in to work because so many people out. I kept falling asleep at my desk !! Right before it was time to go home one of my co-workers came in my office and said she heard me struggling to breathe. I must have been asleep. I got up to go to the urgent care and almost fell over. I couldn’t walk . I couldn’t complete a sentence because I was so short of breath. My husband came and got me from work and took me to the urgent csr he pretty much had to carry me in. My oxygen levels were at 62! They rushed me to the hospital in an ambulance and I was diagnosed with pneumonia. A severe case if pneumonia in my right lung. They could not figure it out. I had not been around anyone with pneumonia and had absolutely no hx of shortness of breath. Was in there for 3 days. I went home and stayed out of work for another week. When I went back I had to go on abbreviated hours cause I still had absolutely NO energy and stayed that way for several weeks. In fact I just recently felt like my energy levels are getting back to normal. I have felt strongly since all this started that I had covid 19 during that time. I wonder if there is a way to check and see if you did have it ?? Just crazy!!