During a pandemic something as simple as cold and cough can cause an onslaught of anxiety .This video compares the presentation of common cold , flu and covid 19 . In truth , even a clinician cannot tell the difference between them easily and has to rely on his / her clinical acumen and investigations . Nevertheless , it is critical that a person self isolates himself / herself at the onset of symptoms so as to prevent others from getting infected as all three are contagious.