The many faces of Covid-19

Temperature checks are common in many places now as a fever is the most common symptom of Covid-19. — S.S. KANESAN/The Star

Since March 22 (2020), the Health Ministry’s definition of a person under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 has been an “acute respiratory infection (sudden onset of respiratory infection with at least one of: shortness of breath, cough or sore throat) with or without fever AND travelled to/resided in foreign country within 14 days before the onset of illness OR close contact in 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed case of Covid-19 OR attended an event associated with known Covid-19 outbreak”.

This column is based on published data from the World Health Organization (WHO), China and other countries in Asia, Europe and North America.