What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
- a high temperature. This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new, continuous cough. This means coughing for more than an hour or having three or more coughing episodes within 24 hours
- a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste
- shivering (chills)
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- muscle and joint aches
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick.
The symptoms of COVID-19 may be like a cold or flu. They might also be similar to the symptoms of your lung condition.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms
Try to stay at home and avoid seeing other people if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and you:
- have a high temperature or
- do not feel well enough to go to school, work or do everyday activities.
We have advice about what to do if you have COVID-19 and a lung condition.
COVID-19 testing
COVID-19 tests are no longer free for most people. You can get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests if you’re more at risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
Who is higher risk?
You’re considered higher risk from COVID-19 if you have certain lung conditions or are having certain treatments.
If you think you’re high risk, speak to your GP, nurse or healthcare professional.
How to get COVID-19 tests
If you’re eligible, you can get free COVID-19 rapid lateral flow tests at a pharmacy. Find your local pharmacy in:
If you cannot get free rapid lateral flow tests, you can buy them from most pharmacies.
Am I more at risk from COVID-19 if I have a lung condition?
If you have a long-term lung condition, you’re at a higher risk of becoming very ill with COVID-19. This includes people with:
- asthma, if it’s poorly controlled
- bronchiectasis
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
- cystic fibrosis
- bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- lung cancer
- mesothelioma
- pulmonary hypertension
- other long-term health issues that affect the lungs, such as an autoimmune condition or connective tissue disease
- interstitial lung disease, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis or pneumoconiosis.
You’re also more at risk if you have had a lung transplant.
Am I more at risk from COVID-19 if I have asthma?
Most people with well-controlled asthma are not at any higher risk of becoming very ill from COVID-19 than the general population.
People with poorly controlled asthma are more at risk. Poorly controlled asthma means you:
- have taken two or more courses of oral corticosteroids in the last 24 months (two years), or
- take steroid tablets every day for your asthma, or
- have had one or more hospital admissions for your asthma in the last 24 months (two years).
If you’re having asthma symptoms or you use your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, it’s a sign your asthma is not as well controlled as it could be. Make an appointment to see your GP or nurse.
Biologic therapies for severe asthma do not increase your risk of getting infected with COVID-19 or becoming very ill with it.
Am I more at risk if I take immunosuppressive medicine?
Some medicines that you take to treat your lung condition can make your immune system weaker, including:
- prednisolone
- methotrexate
- mycophenolate mofetil
- mercaptopurine
- azathioprine.
Taking immunosuppressive medicines can increase your risk of becoming very ill from COVID-19.
If you’re not sure whether the medicines you’re taking mean you’re more at risk, check with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or healthcare professional.
Help if you're feeling worried
We understand if you feel worried or anxious about COVID-19, especially if you live with a lung condition.
Here are some ways to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing:
Here are some ways to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing:
- Keep active. Use our Keep Active programme, which is specially designed for people with lung conditions.
- Keep in touch with your friends and family. In stressful times we cope better with support from those close to us.
- Ask for help if you need it. We have advice for looking after your mental health.
- Join one of our support groups. We have a mixture of virtual and in-person sessions.
- Join our Health Unlocked forum. This is a safe space to connect with other people that are living with lung conditions.
Get support
Call or WhatsApp our Helpline for support with your condition. Get advice on your medicines, symptoms or travelling with a lung condition, or just call us to say hello.