Sickness

Sickness is an in-game element in, , , , and that can afflict villagers. Villagers can become sick, which causes them to shiver (and sometimes show the 'depressed' emotion) and stay in their houses. In, the affected villager will be sweating instead of showing the sadness emotion.

Treatment
Villagers can gradually be recovered from being sick if they are given medicine by the player. The medicine can be purchased from Tom Nook's shop or the Nookling Stores once a day. Sickness usually lasts for three days if medicine is given every day, but this can vary slightly.

While villagers are sick, they will not react positively and will ask for medicine. Selecting the medicine will not give a positive response if the player has no medicine in their pockets, but will open the pockets if the player does. After receiving medicine, the villager will usually remark on how bad it tasted, or will say that they are starting to feel better, and will thank the player. In New Horizons, the villager will perk up immediately once given medicine, and will be able to ask the player for favors, though they will remain inside their house for the entire day.

Once the sickness has passed, the villager will give the player an item the following day in person (or in a letter) if the player took care of the villager while they were sick.

Glitches associated with Sickness
In, a sick villager is instantly healed when the player opens the town gate. In and, the villager will lock their house, leaving a sign saying that they are feeling ill.

Trivia

 * In, villagers may inform the player that another villager is sick.
 * In, sick villagers will appear in the hospital after the player designs the facility.
 * In, villagers cannot become sick. The feature was phased out due to a bug with the system where a villager may move away without pinging the player, as being sick interfered with pinging.