COVID-19

COVID‑19 is a respiratory infection caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, and can cause cold or flu‑like symptoms.

It is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs, airways and other organs.

There are different strains of COVID-19 that spread between people and affect them differently. For some, it is a mild illness that can be managed at home. For others, such as those with an underlying lung or heart condition, the virus can cause them to become very unwell.

People infected with COVID-19 can experience a wide range of symptoms, from relatively mild respiratory symptoms, to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days following exposure to the virus. 

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include one or more of the following:

• fever and chills (temperature at least 38°C)
• sore throat
• sneezing and runny nose
• cough
• shortness of breath (this is also a sign of possible pneumonia and requires immediate medical attention
• temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
• fatigue (extreme tiredness)

Less common symptoms include:

• diarrhoea
• muscle pain or body aches
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• a general feeling of discomfort, illness or unease
• chest, abdominal, and joint pain
• confusion or irritability

Don’t panic if you have some of these symptoms, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and get a RAT test if recommended.

Symptoms may change depending on the COVID-19 variant and can vary in severity depending on the vaccination status of the person, their age and underlying health.

In some people, COVID-19 can become much more severe, causing pneumonia and breathing difficulties. This can lead to acute respiratory and organ failure and wide-spread inflammation, which requires hospitalisation and intensive care.  

COVID-19 is known to cause breathing difficulties and coughing, which can be extremely dangerous to those who already have a hard time breathing due to a medical condition.

The people most at risk of severe health impacts from COVID-19 are those with uncontrolled or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as chronic lung disease, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) and emphysema, and severe asthma that needs multiple medications and medical care.

People with serious heart conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease are also at risk of severe health impacts of COVID-19, as well as those with poorly controlled hypertension.

Talk to your GP or specialist if you need help understanding your own level of risk and advice on how to stay healthy.

Below is some advice for all (including those with respiratory and heart conditions):

• Vaccinate against COVID-19. Follow the recommendations on the Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora website
• Wear a disposable mask or face covering when in public, or where social distancing is an issue (e.g, public transport)
• Keep up with your regular medication as prescribed, and always make sure these are well-stocked
• If you have asthma, COPD or bronchiectasis, follow your action plan (self-management plan)
• Regularly wash and dry your hands, or use a hand sanitiser rub
• Avoid touching surfaces
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs
• Avoid passing around your mobile phone to other people
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
• Cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue (covering both your nose and mouth), or into your elbow 
• Put used tissues in the bin or a bag immediately
• For all information about COVID-19, follow the advice given by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora.

There are 3 main ways you can get COVID-19:

1. Breathing in air with COVID-19 particles
2. COVID-19 particles landing on your mouth, nose or eyes, for example, from a cough or sneeze
3. Touching your mouth, nose or eyes when your hands have the virus on them, either through direct contact with someone or by touching contaminated surfaces

A person is most infectious and more likely to spread COVID-19 in the few days around the time that symptoms develop. This means that some individuals can be infectious before they develop symptoms.

Your risk of getting COVID-19 increases when you are:

• near a person with COVID-19
• near that person for a prolonged period of time
• in a poorly ventilated indoor space
• in enclosed spaces that do not have good airflow
• in crowded places with many people nearby
• in close-contact settings, such as close-range conversations, singing, or shouting

Your risk of getting COVID-19 is lower if you are outdoors, exposed to groups of fewer people, and if people are widely spread out (i.e. social distancing).

Some people who have had COVID-19 suffer health impacts longer than a few weeks or months. This is commonly referred to as ‘long COVID’. Long COVID is when the effects of COVID-19 last longer than 12 weeks. 

For information about the symptoms of long COVID and how to manage them, refer to the Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora website.

For most people the symptoms of COVID-19 will be relatively mild, and the virus can be managed at home with self-care, the same way you would manage a cold.

Some people at higher risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19 are eligible for treatment with COVID-19 antiviral medicines.

These medicines reduce the amount of virus in your body so that you do not get as sick, and are less likely to go to hospital.

Talk to your doctor, healthcare provider, pharmacist, or Hauora provider if you think that you, or a member of your whānau, may be eligible for antiviral medicines.

For more information about COVID-19 antiviral medicines and eligibility criteria, see the Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora information here.