I know some people who got COVID and said they felt fine, except for a stuffy nose. Almost everyone I know that had COVID said that the flu was worse. All the symptoms that you mentioned apply to the flu as well. There might have been one day where they felt really worn out, but that was it. I felt the same way after taking the vaccine. Change in taste can be attributed to blocked nose which radiacally changes the taste of food. This has happened to me with bad colds and bad allergy attacks too.

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.