Novel coronavirus infection differs greatly from the common cold. Novel coronavirus is mainly manifested by fever, malaise and dry cough, and the fever is often high and lasts for more than 72 hours. Mostly, chest tightness, difficulty in breathing and cough appear after 3-5 days. In severe cases, the cough affects sleep and can lead to poor general mental status and poor appetite. Its incubation period is long, about 1-14 days, and can even reach 20 days. The common cold usually has no difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, and the cough may appear later, and the fever does not last long. Mental sleep and appetite are not very different from usual. In addition to this, epidemiological history, nucleic acid testing and CT changes, antibody testing, etc. should be considered. It is easier to distinguish between common cold and novel coronavirus infection. Content source: Dr. You Lai