Yes, chills are a common symptom of COVID-19 and have been reported across every major variant since the pandemic began. They can range from mild cold sensations to intense, uncontrollable shaking, and they typically show up in the first few days of illness alongside fever, fatigue, and body aches.
Why COVID Causes Chills
Chills aren’t caused by the virus itself. They’re a side effect of your immune system fighting the infection. When your body detects SARS-CoV-2, immune cells release signaling molecules (including ones that trigger fever) to raise your internal thermostat. Your brain then perceives your current body temperature as too low, even though it’s normal or already elevated. To close that gap, your muscles start contracting rapidly, which is the shivering you feel, and your blood vessels near the skin tighten to reduce heat loss. The cold sensation and urge to bundle up under blankets is your body’s way of pushing you toward warmth while it generates more heat internally.
This process means chills almost always accompany or precede a fever. If your temperature is rising, chills are the mechanism getting you there. Once your body reaches its new target temperature, the chills usually stop, and you may feel flushed or warm instead.
Chills vs. Rigors
Not all chills are the same. A mild chill might feel like goosebumps or a vague sense of being cold. Rigors are more intense: sudden, violent shaking episodes where your muscles contract hard enough that you can feel your whole body trembling. As one infectious disease specialist at the University of Utah describes it, rigor is a sudden feeling of cold with shivering accompanied by a rise in temperature, and a true rigor is unlikely to happen without a fever.
Rigors during COVID don’t necessarily mean you’re sicker than someone with mild chills, but they do indicate your body is mounting a strong inflammatory response. If you’re experiencing repeated episodes of intense shaking chills, it’s worth monitoring your temperature and other symptoms more closely.
How Long Chills Typically Last
Most people with COVID experience chills during the first one to three days of symptoms. Individual episodes often last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, and they tend to come and go in waves, especially as your fever rises and falls. By the time the acute phase of the illness passes (usually within five to seven days for mild to moderate cases), chills have generally resolved.
If chills persist beyond a week or keep returning after you thought you were improving, that could signal a secondary infection or ongoing inflammation worth getting checked out.
Chills Across Different Variants
Chills have appeared as a symptom with every major COVID variant. The JN.1 variant and its descendants list fever, chills, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, and congestion among their wide range of symptoms. While sore throat, congestion, and fatigue tend to be the most commonly reported symptoms with newer variants, chills remain part of the picture for many people, particularly those who develop a fever.
Chills After Vaccination
Chills can also occur after a COVID vaccine, which sometimes makes people wonder whether they’ve caught the virus. The CDC lists chills among common vaccine side effects, alongside tiredness, headache, muscle pain, and fever. The key difference is timing and duration: vaccine-related chills typically start within 12 to 24 hours of the shot and resolve within one to two days. They also tend to be milder than infection-related chills and aren’t accompanied by respiratory symptoms like cough or congestion.
Managing Chills at Home
Chills themselves aren’t dangerous. They’re uncomfortable, but they signal that your immune system is working. A few practical steps can help:
- Over-the-counter fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can lower your temperature, which in turn reduces the chills. Follow the dosing instructions on the label.
- Layer blankets while you’re shivering, then remove them once the chill passes and you start feeling warm. Fighting through the cold sensation without any covering is unnecessary and miserable.
- Stay hydrated. Fever and shivering both burn through fluids faster than normal. Water, broth, and electrolyte drinks all help.
- Rest. Your body is spending significant energy generating heat and fighting the virus. Sleep as much as you can.
When Chills Signal Something Serious
Chills on their own, even intense ones, are a normal part of a COVID infection. But chills paired with certain other symptoms can indicate the illness is becoming more serious. Seek emergency care if you notice trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion or difficulty staying awake, or skin that appears pale, gray, or blue around the lips or nail beds. Signs of dehydration, like very dry mouth, no tears, or significantly reduced urination, also warrant medical attention, especially in children or older adults.
A fever above 103°F (39.4°C) that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication, or any fever that lasts more than three days, is another reason to contact a healthcare provider. The chills themselves will follow the fever: bring the fever under control, and the chills resolve with it.