Is it a cold or COVID-19?

As temperatures drop and snow starts to fall, we’re officially in sniffle season in Metro Vancouver.

It’s the first fall without any COVID-19 restrictions since 2019. While many in the health care system continue to encourage mask use and physical distancing, mandates are no longer in place.

“I think it’s important that everyone gets the vaccines for COVID and the flu that they’re entitled to. Stay home if you’re sick, send your friends home if they’re sick, and judiciously wear a mask,” Dr. Brian Conway, an infectious diseases specialist based in Vancouver, said.

However, he admits you may still catch a bug. With rapid tests no longer as common as they once were, you may be wondering whether you’ve got the simple cold or something more serious at the first signs of a tickle in your nose.

“The common cold is sore throat, stuffy nose, feeling a tiny bit unwell. Anything more than that — fever, short of breath, body aches, headaches, feeling very sick — then you need to think of whether this is COVID or the flu, or even RSV, I suppose, and consult a health care provider immediately to figure out what it is and what you need to do,” Conway explained.

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While isolation periods are now a thing of the past, Conway says it’s still important you stay home as long as you are feeling unwell.

“You might be spreading it to others who might get sicker than you are,” he told CityNews, adding mask-use for several days even if your symptoms are improving is also a good idea.

“Quarantines, mandated time away, and the like is not something that is being considered right now.”

While this has not been the case in B.C. so far, pediatric hospitals in Ontario and elsewhere have already experienced in the last few months a spike in demand due to the spread of a common illness known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Other jurisdictions are also dealing with severe flu seasons, with experts warning that what has happened in places like Australia could be a sign of what’s to come here.

This year, the process to get the flu shot in B.C. has changed — like with the COVID vaccine roll-out, you’re supposed to register with the province.

The way the new system works is you get emailed or texted a reminder that it’s time to book your shot(s) and along with it, you get a special code you have to use to secure an appointment. The problem is the code only works once, meaning, if you use it to book one shot and not the other, you have to get your hands on another code.

The Ministry of Health previously told CityNews the system was not working perfectly, but maintained that most people should be able to book both shots at the same time. It also clarified that using the booking system for the flu shot is not mandatory but is recommended, and said walk-in appointments will continue to be available at pharmacies province-wide.

-With files from Sonia Aslam