Coronavirus warning: When your cough could be something serious – should you self-isolate?

Coronavirus is an infectious disease that has been confirmed in more than 13 million people across the world. You could be at risk of the virus if you develop a new, continuous cough, it’s been claimed.

The UK lockdown is slowly being eased, as shoppers are now allowed to explore the high-street in England, provided they remain socially-distanced.

You can also visit someone else’s garden, as long as there aren’t more than six people in the garden at once.

But the government has still advised the public to remain indoors as much as possible, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

You could be at risk of the infection if you develop a new cough.

The cough will be continuous, and it’ll be new to the patient, according to Doctor 4 U GP, Dr Diana Gall.

Your cough may also be caused by coronavirus if it causes frequent episodes of coughing, as opposed to a one-off episode.

Some people may find that they usually have a cough, perhaps caused by smoking.

It’s unlikely to be a sign of COVID-19 if you’re used to having coughing episodes, but you should still self-isolate if you have a cough.

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“The signs and symptoms of coronavirus can vary between people,” Dr Gall told Express Health. “However, there is a consensus that a persistent, dry cough and high temperature are the common symptoms found in most cases of this virus.

“In terms of the cough, this will be something that is new to you and is continuous, with frequent episodes of coughing.

“For some people who already have a cough, you may find that it worsens if you become infected with this virus. For instance, if you’re a smoker it’s likely that you already have an ongoing cough that is quite similar to the one that’s symptomatic of coronavirus so it can be difficult to know if you’re infected.

“But if you find that your cough has suddenly gone worse and you develop a fever it’s quite possible that you’ve contracted a virus.”

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If you develop a cough of any kind, you should self-isolate for seven days, or 14 days if you live with someone else.

But, just because you have a cough, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have coronavirus.

A cough is a very common symptom, and it will usually clear up by itself within a few days or weeks.

There usually isn’t any need to see a doctor if you have a cough.

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If you’re worried that you have coronavirus symptoms, you should get tested straight away.

In the UK, you should isolate at home if you develop a fever, a new, continuous cough, or a loss of smell or taste.

Almost 300,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK.

Of those that have been confirmed positive, around 45,000 people have sadly died.

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