COVID-19 is surging right now, and to put it plainly, it still really sucks. A lot of the symptoms will make it nearly impossible to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast to the fullest, so you’ll want to pay close attention to stay safe!
People who are pregnant, older than 60 or who have compromised immune systems or preexisting conditions like heart disease or diabetes may be at especially high risk for complications from the coronavirus, so even if you don’t care about getting yourself sick, hopefully you’re at least considerate of others. (Seriously, no one wants to deal with you coughing all over the turkey.)
It’s a wise move to mask up in crowded places, and if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, getting tested and self-isolating if positive are crucial to stopping the spread. Getting a COVID vaccine or booster ASAP can reduce the likelihood of both severe COVID-19 and of getting long COVID if you do get infected, so you’ll also want to be brave and endure the jab.
Here are the most common COVID symptoms that infectious disease experts, epidemiologists and experts advise to look out for in November 2026.
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What Are the Current COVID Symptoms?
You’re looking at more of the same mess with COVID-19 symptoms in November 2026.
Dr. Ernesto Sanz, MD, MBA, FAAFP, FAAUCM, medical director at Baptist Health Urgent Care, part of Baptist Health South Florida, tells Parade, “The most common symptoms include sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, fatigue, headache and body aches. Some patients also experience fever, chills or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea. Loss of taste or smell can still occur, but it is not necessary for a COVID diagnosis.”
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How These Symptoms Differ From a Cold or Flu
“It can be difficult to distinguish COVID-19, influenza and the common cold based on symptoms alone. All three are respiratory illnesses and can cause overlapping symptoms,” Dr. Cristina Baker, MD, MPH, head of medical and scientific affairs, infectious disease, rapid diagnostics at Abbott Laboratories, says. “One difference is timing: flu symptoms often come on suddenly, while COVID-19 symptoms may develop more gradually after exposure. However, symptom severity and timing are not always reliable clues. When COVID, flu, and the common cold are all circulating, symptoms can only tell you so much. Testing is often the only way to know for sure what’s causing the illness.”
Dr. Wesley Long, MD, Ph.D., infectious disease doctor and head of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist, concurs, saying, “The symptoms can be very similar to common colds or flu. The only reliable way to know what you have is to take either a home antigen test, or talk to your doctor about being tested. This can be useful because different medicines can treat COVID and influenza.”
Related: Doctors Are Begging You To Get Your Flu Shot by This Date
New or Unusual Symptoms to Watch For
The one bit of good news about the current COVID-19 surge? It looks a lot like prior ones, so we’ll at least know what type of misery to expect if we get infected.
Dr. Robert Biernbaum, DO, board-certified emergency medicine physician and chief medical officer for WellNow Urgent Care, tells Parade, “We don’t test for specific strains at the clinical level, but there are typically multiple strains of COVID circulating at any given time with a similar list of associated symptoms. Cough, fever and sore throat are typically the most common symptoms we see, but COVID-19 symptoms can also include congestion, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, muscle aches, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting.”
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How Long Symptoms Typically Last
The duration of COVID symptoms varies from person to person and from infection to infection, doctors say.
“Most people will feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer in some cases, particularly if illness is severe or if a person has what is known as long COVID,” Dr. Neil Vora, MD, physician, executive director of Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition and orchestrator in residence at Integral and former CDC epidemiologist, tells us.
Related: There’s a Medication That Could Help Prevent Long COVID
When You Should Get Tested
Ideally, if you’re exhibiting any COVID symptoms, you should get tested ASAP so you can get appropriate treatment as needed. There is no reason you should suffer for longer than you have to!
“If you develop respiratory symptoms, particularly after a known exposure, it’s reasonable to test for COVID right away,” Dr. Andrea Giamalva, MD, FAAFP, chief medical officer at Experity, advises. “Remember that a negative result early in the illness doesn’t necessarily rule out infection. If symptoms persist, consider repeating a test 48 hours later.”
Dr. Giamalva notes, “Testing is especially important for older adults, people with underlying medical conditions and those who are immunocompromised, because early diagnosis can help guide treatment decisions. Having a positive result for COVID then allows the opportunity to treat with an antiviral medication. This can decrease the length of symptoms and the severity of symptoms overall.”
Related: The #1 Unexpected Side Effect Doctors Are Now Noticing in Long COVID Patients
When to See a Doctor
“Trouble or difficulty breathing or persistent chest pain or pressure should be a clear indicator of needing to seek medical care,” Dr. Tyler Smith, MS, Ph.D., statistical epidemiologist and professor at National University, advises. “Additionally, unusual behaviors like significant confusion and physical signs such as skin, nails or lips appearing blue or pale indicate a lack of oxygen in the blood or blood circulation.”
Dr. Smith adds, “It’s important to note that vaccines are still the most effective way to combat severe illness. If you are around somebody who is 65 or older, pregnant or has health conditions that might include a weakened or managed immune system, you should highly consider getting the protection for them even if you do not feel the need for yourself.”
He emphasizes that while vaccines do come with risks, “as an epidemiologist who has published in the area of vaccines, I believe the positives far outweigh the negatives. I advise my family members to get the COVID-19 vaccine in mid to late September, wait 30 days and get the flu vaccine in late October,” Dr. Smith says. “This allows for the protection from the flu vaccine to be in place right before the holidays and maintains effectiveness through the traditional high transmission periods.”
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Sources
Cristina Baker, MD, MPH, head of medical and scientific affairs, infectious disease, rapid diagnostics at Abbott Laboratories Robert Biernbaum, DO, board-certified emergency medicine physician and chief medical officer for WellNow Urgent Care Andrea Giamalva, MD, FAAFP, chief medical officer at Experity S. Wesley Long, MD, Ph.D., infectious disease doctor and head of diagnostic microbiology at Houston Methodist Ernesto Sanz, MD, MBA, FAAFP, FAAUCM, medical director at Baptist Health Urgent Care, part of Baptist Health South Florida Tyler Smith, MS, Ph.D., statistical epidemiologist and professor at National University Neil Vora, MD, physician, executive director of Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition and orchestrator in residence at Integral and former CDC epidemiologistHence then, the article about here s exactly how covid symptoms are showing up this november was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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