Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two.

While more is learned every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. This page compares COVID-19 and flu, given the best available information to date.

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1. What should I do if I was potentially exposed outside of the workplace?
2. What should I do if I was potentially exposed in the workplace?
3. When should I be quarantined or isolated for 14 days?
4. If I am quarantined, am I expected to work remotely?
5. Do I need a doctor's note to return to work after quarantine?
6. What should I do if I am not sick but have been in the proximity of someone who is under self-quarantine (i.e., the person was asked to self-quarantine because a potential exposure)?
7. If a previously infected person has clinically recovered but later develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, should the person be isolated again and tested for SARS-CoV-2?
8. If an infected person has clinically recovered and then later identified as a contact of a new case, do they need to be quarantined?
9. If an infected person has clinically recovered, using the symptom-based strategy, do they need a test to show they are not infectious?
10. If an infected person has clinically recovered, should the person continue to wear a cloth face covering in public?
11. Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19
12. Can people who recover from COVID-19 be re-infected with SARS-CoV-2
13. If a person recovered and four weeks later through contact tracing, tested positive again, are they infectious to others or do they need to be in isolation?