Can You Have COVID Without a Fever?

The most common COVID-19 symptoms are fever, cough, muscle weakness, and chest pain. But not everyone who gets sick with the COVID-19 virus will develop all of these symptoms. Some people with COVID have very mild symptoms — or no symptoms at all.

That’s why it can be tough to tell if you have COVID. If you’re having mild symptoms, you may wonder if you’re “sick enough” to have COVID. 

Let’s look at what the studies show about COVID symptoms and whether you can have COVID without a fever.

Is it possible to have COVID without a fever?

Yes. Fever is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, but it’s possible to have COVID without a fever. In a review of studies done during the early pandemic, only 78% of people who got sick with COVID developed a fever. That means nearly 1 in 4 people didn’t develop a fever when they were sick. 

Fever also became less common as the COVID virus spread and changed. One study found that Omicron variants were less likely to cause fever than older Delta variants. Plus, people are less likely to develop severe symptoms from a COVID illness if they’re up to date with their vaccines. This means people who received COVID vaccines are less likely to develop fevers as well.

So, it’s now more common for people not to have a fever when they’re sick with COVID. 

How common is it to have COVID and not get a fever?

It’s difficult to know how common it is to have COVID without a fever, because many people who fall into this category never get tested for COVID.

But the evidence suggests that having COVID without a fever is pretty common. One study found that about 44% of healthcare workers who got sick with COVID never had a fever. Another study conducted early in the pandemic found that 1 in 4 people who went to the emergency department with COVID-like symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 didn’t have a fever. 

Who is more likely to get sick with COVID and not get a fever?

COVID can affect people differently based on their age and other health conditions. Some people are less likely to develop fever and other severe symptoms. You’re more likely not to have a fever if:

• You’re a kid: Kids are less likely to have a fever when they have COVID. Less than half of children who get sick with COVID develop a fever. 

• You’ve had COVID before: If you have had COVID before, you’re more likely to have mild symptoms if you get sick again. This includes not having a fever. 

• You’re up to date with your COVID vaccine: Vaccination primes your immune system, so it’s ready to fight off the COVID-19 virus. People who are vaccinated are less likely to have severe illness from COVID or to have long-lasting complications. 

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What are the other common symptoms of COVID?

If you have a mild case of COVID, it can be hard to tell if you have COVID or a cold. 

The most common symptoms of COVID include: 

• Cough 

• Shortness of breath

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Tiredness or fatigue

• Muscle aches

• Headache

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea

You may have a combination of any of these symptoms, or you might not have any symptoms at all. So, it’s often impossible to know whether or not you have COVID based on just your symptoms. Getting tested for COVID is the only way to know for sure if you have the virus. You can get tested for COVID at an urgent care center, doctor’s offices, or your primary care provider’s office. You can also use an at-home COVID test, which provides rapid and accurate results.

When should you seek medical care for COVID symptoms?

Not everyone who has COVID needs medical care. Most people can safely recover at home using over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. But people who are at risk for severe COVID should contact their healthcare team to see if they may benefit from taking a prescription antiviral medication. 

Talk to a healthcare professional if you’re at higher risk for severe COVID because you:

• Are over 65 years old

• Have a chronic heart or lung condition

• Have a weakened immune system

• Are pregnant

You should also contact a healthcare professional if you start to feel better from COVID and then suddenly develop a new fever or a new or worsening cough. This may be a sign of a new bacterial infection in your lungs that needs treatment with an antibiotic. 

Sometimes, COVID can cause a life-threatening illness. You should seek medical attention right away if you develop symptoms of severe COVID illness. Go to the nearest emergency room if you develop any of these symptoms while you’re sick with COVID: 

• Difficulty breathing

• Chest pain or pressure

• Confusion or difficulty staying awake

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Meredith Grace Merkley, DO, FAAP

Dr. Merkley is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician who has over a decade of experience working in community health. She is currently a National Health Services Corp scholar, and is serving as the medical director of a school-based health clinic at a federally funded health center.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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