INCUBATION TIME

How long does coronavirus last in your system?


CORONAVIRUS continues to spread across the US, with more than 189,700 confirmed cases nationwide.

The deadly virus is highly infectious due to its incubation period as well as how easily it is transmitted.

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How long does it take for coronavirus symptoms to appear after being infected?Credit: Alamy

Here is what you need to know about how long you are contagious for and how long coronavirus stays in your system.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The most common symptoms to be displayed if infected are a fever, dry cough and shortness of breath.

However, other symptoms can include tiredness, muscle pain and headaches, as well as losing your sense of smell or taste.

Health officials advise anyone who has a new, prolonged cough or a fever to stay away from other people and to practice social distancing as it may be due to coronavirus.

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The most common signs of coronavirus in confirmed cases of Covid-19 from China up to February 22, 2020

How long do symptoms take to appear?

Current studies suggest that symptoms can take anywhere between two to 14 days on average to appear after first becoming infected with the virus.

The latest study, conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, revealed an average incubation period of 5.1 days - compared to the common cold, which takes just three days.

This means you could be infectious for almost a week before you even know it and begin to display signs of a fever or a new cough.

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Some rare cases of the virus have been found to have an incubation period of 24 days.

The incubation research was authorized by the government of China, where the virus originated, and experts are calling the conclusions "worrying" -- especially for people who are currently quarantined themselves.

However, Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia said: "One of the issues with particularly long incubation periods is that it is often very difficult to exclude the possibility that the person had not had a second unrelated contact."

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He added that the extended period was "concerning" and highlighted the need to constantly re-evaluate the current research and advice offered during the pandemic.

Incubation of the virus is between two and 14 days, although you could be infectious for two weeks afterwardsCredit: Getty Images - Getty

How long am I contagious?

People who display symptoms are thought to be contagious for seven days from the time the first signs appear, which is why the government advises self-isolation, to avoid infecting other people.

However, people who no longer have symptoms of coronavirus could still be contagious for up to two weeks.

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WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last week: "People infected with Covid-19 can still infect others after they stop feeling sick, so these [social distancing] measures should continue for at least two weeks after symptoms disappear."

He added: "Visitors should not be allowed until the end of this period."

How long should I self-isolate?

Health officials advised people at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to self-isolate for at least seven days from the day they display symptoms such as a fever or new cough.

If you are living with someone who has coronavirus, they then said you should self-isolate for 14 days, too.

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The CDC advised only coming out of self-isolation after at least a week and after having gone three days without a fever and a noticeable decrease in other symptoms.

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On Monday, December 27, 2021 AP released new guidelines from the CDC for self-isolation.

The latest guidelines from the CDC has cut down isolation periods in half from 10 days to now just five days.

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Similar guidelines has been said for those who have been in close contact with those infected.

"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said the guidance is in keeping with growing evidence that people with the coronavirus are most infectious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop," AP wrote.

According to AP this decision was also driven by a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, propelled by the omicron variant.

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