(Undated) The holiday season is prime time for getting COVID and influenza, but telling them apart isn’t easy. Symptoms are similar, including fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, head and body pain, and stomach issues, but infectious disease specialists say flu symptoms are more sudden. At the same time, COVID tends to come on gradually. You’ll want to get tested so your doctor can prescribe the proper medication: Paxlovid for COVID and Tamiflu for influenza. To reduce your risk of contracting either illness, doctors recommend avoiding crowds, wearing masks, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated.
Clues To Determining Whether It’s Covid Or Flu
By Tom Robinson
Dec 28, 2025 | 4:07 AM
Story Content (c) 2026 Meredith Communications LC - All Rights Reserved.

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