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The Key Sign You Had COVID, Says Dr. Fauci

These symptoms can indicate you've had COVID. 
FACT CHECKED BY Alek Korab

While COVID cases are dropping, the pandemic isn't over. The virus is here to stay for the time being and people are still getting infected daily. The good news is, many will experience a mild case of COVID and some don't even realize they've had it. That said, there are clear signs you've had COVID according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the President and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who also emphasizes how real Long COVID is—a condition where you have symptoms of the virus for weeks or months after the initial infection. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

1

Long COVID is Real

Man sitting on bed holding his head.

According to CNBC, Dr. Fauci says, "Symptoms of Long Covid, which researchers are now calling Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid-19, or PASC, can develop 'well after' infection, and severity can range from mild to incapacitating.. The magnitude of the problem is not fully known," he said, adding "PASC was also reported in people who did not require hospitalization and people who had symptoms that were not part of their initial infection."

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2

Brain Fog

Dr. Fauci made an appearance on the Rachel Maddow show last year where he discussed signs of Long COVID. He said, "Some of them even have situations with what they call brain fog, where it's very difficult to them to focus or to concentrate can be really quite disturbing."

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3

Extreme Fatigue

Tired african American male worker or student sit at desk sigh yawn feeling stressed or fatigue overwork in office

Another sign of COVID is extreme fatigue. Dr. Fauci told Medscape, "You don't want to be scaring people and alarming them, but they really should know that we don't know what the long-term consequences are, even when it looks like a routine infection. We better be careful. Even after you clear the virus, there are post-viral symptoms. I know, because I follow on the phone a lot of people who call me up and talk about their course. And it's extraordinary how many people have a post-viral syndrome that's very strikingly similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome."

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4

Shortness of Breath

Pretty brunette coughing on couch at home in the living-room.

Dr. Fauci has mentioned in several interviews that shortness of breath is a concern in COVID patients and Dr. Ramzi Yacoub (PharmD), SingleCare Chief Pharmacy Officer tells Eat This, Not That! Health, "Shortness of breath is a common sign of COVID-19, which occurs prior to the development of pneumonia. Generally, common illnesses, like the flu or a cold, do not cause shortness of breath unless it has progressed to pneumonia."

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5

Dr. Fauci Warns Another Surge Could Happen

Dr. Anthony Fauci

With cases spiking overseas, there's growing concern of another wave in the U.S. Dr. Fauci told PBS NewsHour, "One thing is for sure, that we're still, as a country, going in the right direction with regard to the downward trajectory of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. The caveat about that is, is that we generally follow the European Union, but particularly the U.K., by a few weeks, usually three or so weeks. And if you look at what's going on, for example, in the U.K., when you combine the increased transmissibility of the BA.2, which is a sublineage variant of the original Omicron, together with the relaxation of some of the restrictions like mask-wearing and indoor concern about making sure people are vaccinated, and then you talk about the waning of immunity, they're starting to see an increase in case and, to some extent, an increase in hospitalization, even though they are not seeing an increase in — necessarily in severity of disease. So I would not be surprised, Judy, if, in the next few weeks, we do see an uptick in cases. The really important issue is that, will that be manifested in an increase in severe disease that would lead to hospitalization?Because you can expect that, when you open up, as we're doing with pulling back on the masking indoors, that you're going to see an increase in cases, hopefully that the degree of vaccination immunity and immunity associated with prior infection will protect us from get any severity of disease of any significance."

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6

How to Stay Safe Out There

covid vaccine

Follow the public health fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated or boosted ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don't travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don't go indoors with people you're not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

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Heather Newgen
Heather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently freelances for several publications. Read more about Heather