Is there any way to distinguish COVID from flu and colds?
No, the clinical features of COVID-19 overlap substantially with influenza (‘flu’) and other respiratory viral illnesses (like common colds).#
There is no way to distinguish among them without testing.
This could be COVD-19, flu or a common cold, or many other respiratory viruses
What is the difference between a cold, flu and COVID-19?
They are similar. Influenza (flu), the common cold, and COVID-19, are all contagious respiratory viral illnesses – but caused by different viruses.
Flu is caused by influenza viruses only. Whereas the common cold can be caused by a number of different viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses. The latter should not be confused with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Because all three have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are typically more intense and begin more abruptly.
Summary
We have described is there any way to distinguish COVID from flu and colds. The short answer is no.
MyHSN had more information here.
