Whether you had a “bad cold” this winter or recently endured a cough that would not quit, it’s only natural to wonder if you might have had COVID-19 without realizing it. That’s especially true now that infectious disease experts say the virus was likely already spreading before cities started to lock down and put social distancing orders in place. “As the week's progress, it’s become evident that this is a virus that was widespread throughout our country, particularly in more populated areas, sooner than we thought,” says the M.D., an infectious disease specialist, and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. So, could you have had COVID-19 without realizing it?
It’s possible. “Most people who have coronavirus have an uncomplicated case of infection, and it could be indistinguishable from the cold or influenza,” explains infectious disease expert Mr. X, M.D., senior…
