The CDC classified someone who has COVID-19 symptoms but isn’t sick enough to need hospitalization as having ‘mild’ COVID-19.
Deeper dive
There is an enormous range of illness from COVID-19. While some might just have a headache, another might be sick enough to need bedrest. Others develop persistent debilitating symptoms, called long-hauler COVID. Yet the CDC still defines these cases as ‘mild.’ These differences are confusing to the public and infectious disease specialists say journalists should explain that what the CDC means when it says ‘mild’ COVID, it is referring to people having mild, moderate to severe illness with COVID-19 but not developing acute enough symptoms to need hospitalization.