Telling hay fever from COVID: You know it ain’t sneezy

TASMANIA’S hay fever sufferers are being urged to get tested for coronavirus.

Public Health director Mark Veitch said they understood many Tasmanians would find the requirement frustrating, but it was important that no potential cases of COVID were missed.

“Hay fever can cause a runny, itchy or blocked nose, sneezing, itchy, sore and watery eyes and sometimes a cough,” hesaid.

“These can also be symptoms of a cold, influenza or coronavirus. Without a test, it can be hard to tell them apart .”

Dr Veitch said with as many as one in four Tasmanians living with hay fever, it was important that people did not dismiss symptoms as a“normal” response to a seasonal flare-up of their allergies.

“There is evidence that some people who have caught coronavirus first believed they were simply suffering from hay fever,” he said.

“We do not want Tasmanians to think that their symptoms could only be hay fever without first ruling out coronavirus.

“The message to Tasmanians is if you have hay fever, even mildly, please get tested for corona virus, justin case .”

Dr Veitch said while waiting for the result, stay home and do not go to work or school.

“If your result is negative, see your GP about controlling the symptoms and get a certificate to allow you to attend work or school.

“If your symptoms get worse or change during the hay fever season, please go back to your doctor for review and possibly re testing for corona virus .”