Do I have Covid-19 or is it just my allergies?

Do I have Covid-19 or is it just my allergies?

Just as the world seemed to take a turn for the better with schools and restaurants re-opening and despite the fact that masks are still required, we seemed to be returning to a normal society. That is until we discovered that not only does President Trump have COVID-19, but overall cases of the virus are beginning to rise again. There are many factors that can play in the role of this increase; some being, colleges and universities parties, restaurants and bars opening, individuals not practicing social distancing, people not wearing a mask properly or at all, and many others.

I have stated in previous blogs that just because we are attempting to make society as normal as possible, it does not mean we can return to complete normality. We still must remain safe and smart. We have to continue to practice social distancing, wear our masks as indicated, wash our hands, and take any other precautions necessary. As we know, we are living in a historical era. We are living within what will be written about in history books. The coronavirus outbreak has impacted our lives in more ways than we can count. Even after all this time, we are still impacted by this virus. But as we begin to enter the fall season we are faced with more than just the coronavirus. The fall season brings allergies, colds, and sometimes even the flu. Now we also have to worry about COVID-19 on top of these other issues. It gets difficult when we have to identify the symptoms we are feeling and pinpoint what exactly we are suffering from. Here is a list of the different symptoms of Covid-19, Allergies, Influenza, and the Common Cold since they are all so closely related:

As you can see, symptoms for all four of these issues are relatively similar. The difference between these symptoms is the severity of them. For example, the fever associated with COVID-19 and with the flu can be two different ball games. The cough that comes with COVID-19 is far more different than the cough that comes with a common cold. So that being said, it can be extremely difficult to self-diagnose your illness based off of your symptoms. It is extremely important to take the time to visit your doctor when you are not feeling 100% yourself. Even if you are feeling yourself, still stay in touch with your doctors and keep up with your vitamins and safety precautions. There are so many ways we can help prevent the spread of the virus: wearing our masks, washing our hands, avoiding touching your face and or mouth, keep six feet away from others, take your temperature daily, and more. By practicing these things we can help reduce the spread of the virus, especially now during the holidays. Not only do we spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays within these next few months; but we also have to do the shopping for all of these holidays. The food stores, malls, and outlets will all be far more crowded than how they have been recently. This will make social distancing more difficult, but if we continue to wear our masks and keep space when we can, these next few holidays should go smoothly.

You may wonder, is it safe to travel for the holidays? The answer will vary from place to place, it depends on where you are travel to and from. You may also wonder, is it safe to sit down and enjoy a family dinner? The answer once again will vary. You have to take into consideration how many people will be there and who will be there. The elderly and those with underlying conditions are more susceptible to receiving the virus. So if you plan on having a house full of people, masks or no masks, it is probably for the best that those who are immunosuppressed stay home for their own safety.

With all of this in mind, let’s keep ourselves as healthy as possible this season! Let us be mindful of our practices and our symptoms. Stay in touch with your doctor and remain home if you are not feeling your best. Be aware that if you suffer from any of the symptoms above, you should consult your doctor. If you plan on traveling or spending time with family for the holidays, play it safe and take the extra precautions!