A running nose and sputum secretion that occurs during a cold cannot necessarily be concluded that it is new-type coronavirus pneumonia.

The World Health Organization and CDC's website confirm that a running nose and sputum occur during a cold but they don’t rule out coronavirus.

The World Health Organization and CDC's website confirm that a running nose and sputum occur during a cold but they don’t rule out coronavirus.The World Health Organization states that the signs of novel coronavirus infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. It also added that in more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

The symptoms of the novel coronavirus as described by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not include a runny nose and sputum secretion. Therefore, these symptoms do not necessarily mean that an individual is infected by the coronavirus as they commonly occur during a cold.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.