If you've been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you might wonder how long you'll be sick if you do contract the virus. Every case is different, but scientific study and data collection have given experts a fairly good idea of what to expect. Here are the symptoms you may be dealing with, when they'll likely strike, and how long it will take until you're fully recovered and can safely emerge from self-isolation.
When Do the First COVID-19 Symptoms Appear?
Not everyone who gets COVID-19 has symptoms— many infections are mild or asymptomatic. Yet those who experience symptoms may see them manifest in a variety of ways. Common symptoms include fever and chills, a cough, muscle or body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or a loss of taste and/or smell. Other people with COVID-19 have reported headaches, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Yes, that's a pretty large window. But a March 2021 meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases narrowed it down. Researchers analyzed 99 relevant studies published from January 2020 to January 2021 and found that, on average, it takes just over six days for COVID-19 symptoms to hit.
Incubation periods can change with mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC reported some evidence that the Omicron variant is associated with a shorter incubation period than Delta and other strains.
Regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 variant, any of the symptoms can strike at any time during the course of the illness, from day one to the last days.
How Long After Having COVID-19 Are You Contagious?
How Long Does It Take To Recover?
The COVID-19 recovery period depends on the severity of the illness, according to MedlinePlus. If you have a mild case, you can expect to recover within about two weeks. But for more severe cases, it could take months to feel better, and hospitalization might be required.
According to the CDC, older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions, like heart or lung disease or diabetes, may be at risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19.
Also, some people may experience long COVID, aka post-COVID conditions, chronic COVID, and several other similar names, so the CDC. People who experience long COVID can have new, recurring, or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after infection and even after recovery.
Who's at Risk for Long COVID? A Study Says These 4 Factors May Predict Persistent Symptoms
Can You Remain Positive for COVID-19 Even After Symptoms Have Resolved, and How Does That Affect the Course of the Disease?
Whether patients continue to have symptoms or not, sometimes COVID-19 sticks around longer than expected; this is known as viral persistence. Viral persistence affects how long someone is contagious and, therefore, how long they should stay in isolation. Scientists are still trying to figure out why that happens in some patients, how it varies by individual, and exactly how long the virus stays alive inside the body.
"Viral clearance is the disappearance of an infecting virus, either in response to a therapeutic agent or as a result of the body's immune response," Charles Bailey, MD, medical director of infection prevention at St. Joseph Hospital and Mission Hospital in Orange County, California, told Health. "This implies recovery from infection and lack of ongoing contagiousness. On the other hand, viral persistence is the continued presence of a virus, usually within specific types of cells, after resolution of symptoms of the acute viral infection."
Why Do Some People Refuse to Wear a Face Mask in Public?
Viral persistence is seen in HIV/AIDS, chronic hepatitis, chickenpox/shingles and herpes simplex, and Epstein-Barr virus infections. While they are not typically a characteristic of acute respiratory infections such as COVID-19, persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections occur in some people, according to research.
The CDC reports that the likelihood of people having an infectious virus is very low after 10 days from when symptoms start. SARS-CoV-2 RNA can still be detected in upper respiratory specimens for up to three months after the start of infection in people who have recovered from COVID-19. But these people are usually not infectious because the virus that is still in their system is dead, or unable to replicate.
More time may be needed for the virus to clear in people who have severe COVID-19 or are immunocompromised. And while the loss of smell and taste can continue for weeks or months after recovery, people with these symptoms do not need to isolate for longer than recommended for their case. Retesting during the same illness after you have already tested positive is not recommended by the CDC, however. Therefore, unless you need a negative test result for travel, school, work, or other public event, you likely won't know if you are still positive after your symptoms end.
When Can You Safely Go Out in Public?
The biggest risk of going out in public after having COVID-19 is transmitting the virus to others. However, if you follow the guidelines outlined below, you can minimize the dangers.
Getting tested for COVID-19 is recommended for people who have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19. However, people who tested positive in the last 90 days and are exposed to the virus again, do not need to get retested unless they are showing symptoms.
As of April 2022, the CDC guidelines advise people who were exposed to COVID-19 and are not up to date on vaccines to quarantine for five days. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines means having received the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and, for people older than 12 years, having received a booster as well. Quarantine is not necessary if you were exposed to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days, regardless of your vaccination status.
The CDC guidance also recommends isolating for at least five full days if you test positive. This means staying at home and separate from others. And if you have to be around others inside your home or in public during the isolation period, you should wear a mask. If you are unsure whether you should get tested, CDC's Coronavirus Self-Checker is a helpful tool you can use to make a decision.
When Do the First COVID-19 Symptoms Appear?
Not everyone who gets COVID-19 has symptoms— many infections are mild or asymptomatic. Yet those who experience symptoms may see them manifest in a variety of ways. Common symptoms include fever and chills, a cough, muscle or body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or a loss of taste and/or smell. Other people with COVID-19 have reported headaches, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Yes, that's a pretty large window. But a March 2021 meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases narrowed it down. Researchers analyzed 99 relevant studies published from January 2020 to January 2021 and found that, on average, it takes just over six days for COVID-19 symptoms to hit.
Incubation periods can change with mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The CDC reported some evidence that the Omicron variant is associated with a shorter incubation period than Delta and other strains.
Regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 variant, any of the symptoms can strike at any time during the course of the illness, from day one to the last days.
How Long After Having COVID-19 Are You Contagious?
How Long Does It Take To Recover?
The COVID-19 recovery period depends on the severity of the illness, according to MedlinePlus. If you have a mild case, you can expect to recover within about two weeks. But for more severe cases, it could take months to feel better, and hospitalization might be required.
According to the CDC, older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions, like heart or lung disease or diabetes, may be at risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19.
Also, some people may experience long COVID, aka post-COVID conditions, chronic COVID, and several other similar names, so the CDC. People who experience long COVID can have new, recurring, or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after infection and even after recovery.
Who's at Risk for Long COVID? A Study Says These 4 Factors May Predict Persistent Symptoms
Can You Remain Positive for COVID-19 Even After Symptoms Have Resolved, and How Does That Affect the Course of the Disease?
Whether patients continue to have symptoms or not, sometimes COVID-19 sticks around longer than expected; this is known as viral persistence. Viral persistence affects how long someone is contagious and, therefore, how long they should stay in isolation. Scientists are still trying to figure out why that happens in some patients, how it varies by individual, and exactly how long the virus stays alive inside the body.
"Viral clearance is the disappearance of an infecting virus, either in response to a therapeutic agent or as a result of the body's immune response," Charles Bailey, MD, medical director of infection prevention at St. Joseph Hospital and Mission Hospital in Orange County, California, told Health. "This implies recovery from infection and lack of ongoing contagiousness. On the other hand, viral persistence is the continued presence of a virus, usually within specific types of cells, after resolution of symptoms of the acute viral infection."
Why Do Some People Refuse to Wear a Face Mask in Public?
Viral persistence is seen in HIV/AIDS, chronic hepatitis, chickenpox/shingles and herpes simplex, and Epstein-Barr virus infections. While they are not typically a characteristic of acute respiratory infections such as COVID-19, persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections occur in some people, according to research.
The CDC reports that the likelihood of people having an infectious virus is very low after 10 days from when symptoms start. SARS-CoV-2 RNA can still be detected in upper respiratory specimens for up to three months after the start of infection in people who have recovered from COVID-19. But these people are usually not infectious because the virus that is still in their system is dead, or unable to replicate.
More time may be needed for the virus to clear in people who have severe COVID-19 or are immunocompromised. And while the loss of smell and taste can continue for weeks or months after recovery, people with these symptoms do not need to isolate for longer than recommended for their case. Retesting during the same illness after you have already tested positive is not recommended by the CDC, however. Therefore, unless you need a negative test result for travel, school, work, or other public event, you likely won't know if you are still positive after your symptoms end.
When Can You Safely Go Out in Public?
The biggest risk of going out in public after having COVID-19 is transmitting the virus to others. However, if you follow the guidelines outlined below, you can minimize the dangers.
Getting tested for COVID-19 is recommended for people who have symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19. However, people who tested positive in the last 90 days and are exposed to the virus again, do not need to get retested unless they are showing symptoms.
As of April 2022, the CDC guidelines advise people who were exposed to COVID-19 and are not up to date on vaccines to quarantine for five days. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines means having received the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and, for people older than 12 years, having received a booster as well. Quarantine is not necessary if you were exposed to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days, regardless of your vaccination status.
The CDC guidance also recommends isolating for at least five full days if you test positive. This means staying at home and separate from others. And if you have to be around others inside your home or in public during the isolation period, you should wear a mask. If you are unsure whether you should get tested, CDC's Coronavirus Self-Checker is a helpful tool you can use to make a decision.
Vận hành bởi Trương Anh Vũ® 
Trung Nghĩa, Hòa Ninh, Hòa Vang, Tp Đà Nẵng, Việt Nam 
