I’m convinced I had Covid twice, in March 2020 and again in December 2020. So in my case, “natural” immunity did not last 9 months. (Although there were presumably different Covid variants at play here. I’m in London where the “Kent” variant was dominant in the December peak)
Only the second time was confirmed by PCR test (no testing available in March 2020), but symptoms and progression were nearly identical both times.
But it has some distinct features: high fever/temperature which lasts < 24 hours, changes in taste (foods which I normally enjoy tasting bitter and disgusting, toothpaste tasting like bitter chemicals, etc), severe fatigue, mild-to-moderate nausea, shortness of breath, and muscle and joint pains. Some of these symptoms lingered for quite a few weeks.
I only know 1 person who almost died from it, my friend's mother who had to be put on a ventilator, but she survived.
> "Almost everyone I know that had COVID said that the flu was worse."
I'm inclined to agree. I've had a few severe flus in my lifetime that felt worse and more intense, but again, in my experience the symptoms of flu feel quite different to Covid.
That said, I certainly don't recommend getting Covid!
> "Change in taste can be attributed to blocked nose which radiacally changes the taste of food."
I did not get a blocked nose/sinus from Covid.
Also I never really had that much of a cough. Just a mild, intermittent dry cough.