Both Coronavirus and common flu have similar symtoms. Here is how you can identify the similarities and differences:

Symptoms

Typical flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, headaches, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue and, sometimes, vomiting and diarrhea. Flu symptoms often come on suddenly. Most people who get the flu will recover in less than two weeks. 

In COVID-19, Reported symptoms in patients have varied from mild to severe, and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Transmission

Both spread through droplets released by an infected person while coughing, sneezing or talking.

Flu can be spread by an infected person for several days before their sympotoms appear; COVID-19 is believed to be spread in the same manner, but we don’t yet to know for sure.

Treatment

Neither virus is treatable with antibiotics, which only work on bacterial infections.

Both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Severe cases may require hospitalization and support.

Prevention

Unlike seasonal flu, for which there is a vaccine to protect against infection, there is no vaccine for COVID-19.

In general, we recommend the following to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, which include both coronaviruses and flu viruses: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay home when you are sick; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Differences we know for sure:

CAUSE- Flu is caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses. Whereas is caused by one virus, the novel 2019 coronavirus, now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

VACCINE – For Flu, there is a vaccine available and effective to prevent some of the most dangerous or to reduce the severity. But in case of COVID-19, there is no vaccine available at this time.

INFECTIONS – There are more than 1 billion cases worldwide for flu and over 650,000 cases of COVID-19 till date.