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THE rapid spread of coronavirus has got all of us worried that a runny nose may mean we have it.

A common ailment has got us questioning if this an early symptom, and if it is, what we should do about it.

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 A runny nose has got people thinking the worse during the coronavirus pandemic
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A runny nose has got people thinking the worse during the coronavirus pandemicCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Is a runny nose a symptom of coronavirus?

According to the World Health Organisation, a runny nose is in fact a symptom of coronavirus, albeit a mild one.

It is listed on the among a group of other mild symptoms which include: aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhoea.

Despite a runny nose not being one of the main symptoms, it is one that you should not take lightly and should get professional medical advice on, you can go about this by calling the NHS 111 coronavirus advice service, but should avoid going to your GP or to the hospital.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, tiredness and dry cough.

What shall I do if I only have a runny nose?

If you do not have any other symptoms along with your runny nose then it is highly unlikely that you have contracted the bug.

You should however take precautions by staying at home as per Government advice.

It may be that you just have a cold so you should drink plenty to avoid dehydration as well as keeping warm and getting plenty of rest.

As a runny nose is one of the mild symptoms of coronavirus you should self-isolate and call the for advise.

What should I do if I have a runny nose and other symptoms?

If you have a runny nose and any other symptoms of the coronavirus, you should be self-isolating.

This means staying at home for seven days if you live alone and extending this to 14 days if you live with other people.

By doing this, you will be helping to stop the spread of the virus to other people outside of your home.

Studies show that people have coronavirus without symptoms for five days on average.

 COVID-19 has claimed the lives of thousands across the UK
COVID-19 has claimed the lives of thousands across the UK

With any of these mild-symptoms, self-isolating is a precautionary measure, but in regards to treatment, you shouldn't need any, irrespective if you have contracted the disease or not, although you should call the to confirm.

To protect others and yourself from coronavirus, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You should call 999 if the runny nose is accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating and feeling or being sick and lasts more than 15 minutes.

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What are the other symptoms of coronavirus?

A high temperature is a common symptom.

This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back, you do not need to measure your temperature with a thermometer.

A new, continuous and dry cough is also a symptom.

This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours.

What can I do while self-isolating?

For a person that is usually busy, self-isolating for up to two weeks can seem like a long time.

But it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom, and there are many things that you can do to pass the the time and keep healthy.

These include staying in-touch with your friends and family over the phone and learning new skills, such as cooking or taking an online course.

To try and keep healthy, you should drink lots of water to try and stay hydrated and take paracetamol to try and ease your symptoms, according to the .

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