Health
Cold or COVID: With Active Cases in India Crossing 6,000, Which Symptoms Should Actually Make You Test Today?
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As COVID-19 cases in India surge past 6,000, confusing symptoms and monsoon flu spikes make it vital to know when to test and stay protected.
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India is witnessing a fresh rise in COVID-19 cases, with active infections crossing the 6,000 mark on Sunday. Kerala has emerged as the worst-affected state, reporting nearly 2,000 cases on its own. Health officials attribute the rise to highly transmissible variants such as JN.1, NB.1.8.1, and LF.7. While these variants mostly lead to mild illness, their rapid spread and symptom overlap with the common cold make early detection and testing especially important.
What is fuelling this spike? The latest COVID variants—JN.1, NB.1.8.1, and LF.7. They are real, very contagious, and are spreading faster than anything. But with the monsoon setting in and frequent weather changes across several regions, cases of flu-like illnesses are naturally on the rise, making it even harder to tell a seasonal flu from a potential COVID infection
Is It Just a Common Cold?
It could be. But that is where it gets confusing. These new COVID variants come with symptoms that are eerily similar to the cold like cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, and runny nose. Some even bring along the gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell. The problem is distinguishing between the two.
Here is How to Differentiate
Cold symptoms tend to be lighter. One may experience a runny nose, sneezing, a mild cough, and maybe a low-grade fever. But COVID symptoms, especially with the newer variants, can include fatigue, loss of appetite, digestive troubles, and that strange, sudden inability to enjoy your morning coffee by losing taste and smell.
If your cold feels like more than just a "cold" rather than the need to just relax, it might be time to reach for a test kit.
Testing: What Works Now?
The usuals—RT-PCR and RAT (rapid antigen tests)—are still the go-to diagnostic tools. RT-PCR remains the gold standard, capable of catching the virus even when it is just starting. RATs, on the other hand, are quick, convenient, and ideal for mass screening.
Whether you are testing at home or heading to a clinic, do not wait until you have already sneezed a lot. If you are feeling off, it is better to swab right then.
Should You Be Worried?
More than worrying, be absolutely alert. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), these variants are highly transmissible but generally cause mild illness. That said, “mild” is subjective when you are too tired to stand or cannot taste your food. Plus, if you live with elderly people, have kids, or have a history of comorbidities, be highly alert.
Precaution
- Mask up in crowded spaces (airports, buses, your local vegetable market)
- Keep sanitiser handy
- Maintain distance
- If you are feeling under the weather, test early and isolate if needed.
- Stay informed with updates from official health authorities, not social media.
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Supriya Ramesh author
I am a lifestyle writer with a passion for the beauty industry, always hopp...View More
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