What is long Covid?

Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions (PCC) or long COVID.

What are some symptoms of COVID-19 long haulers?

Those individuals are often referred to as “COVID long-haulers” and have a condition called COVID-19 syndrome or “long COVID.” For COVID long-haulers, persistent symptoms often include brain fog, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath, among others.

How long can someone with COVID-19 be contagious?

"A person with COVID-19 is considered infectious starting two days before they develop symptoms, or two days before the date of their positive test if they do not have symptoms," according to the CDC. Regardless of symptoms, those who test positive are advised to take specific precautions for at least 10 days.

Can you still test positive after recovering from COVID-19?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some people who contract COVID-19 can have detectable virus for up to three months, but that doesn't mean they are contagious. When it comes to testing, however, the PCR tests are more likely to continue picking up the virus following infection.

Can you get long COVID-19 even if you were vaccinated?

Vaccination against COVID-19 reduces the risk of developing long COVID and improves long COVID symptoms among those who were unvaccinated when infected, according to a new comprehensive review by the U.K. Health Security Agency.

What is long COVID?

How long do COVID-19 vaccines last?

It is normal for virus-fighting antibodies—such as those that are stimulated by a COVID-19 vaccine—to wane over time. Monitoring antibody levels in the blood is one way to measure vaccine efficacy and research has found that protection remains high for six months after the second shot of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

How long does it take for immunity to wane after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

A study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that immunity against severe COVID-19 begins to wane four months after receiving a so-called "booster" third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

Why might someone continue to test positive for COVID-19 after isolation?

According to Benjamin tenOever, a microbiologist at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, some people may continue to test positive because the weakened virus keeps replicating, or because of broken virus genomes.

Can patients who have recovered from COVID-19 continue to have detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in upper respiratory specimens?

• Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to have detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in upper respiratory specimens for up to 3 months after illness onset in concentrations considerably lower than during illness; however, replication-competent virus has not been reliably recovered and infectiousness is unlikely.

Should I isolate and get tested if I have recovered from COVID-19 but I have symptoms again?

If a previously infected person experiences new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 3 months or more after the date of the previous illness onset (or date of last positive viral diagnostic test [RT-PCR or antigen test] if the person never experienced symptoms), the person should undergo repeat viral diagnostic testing. However, serologic testing should not be used to establish the presence or absence of SARS-COV-2 infection or reinfection. These people who have a positive test result should be considered infectious and remain isolated until they again meet criteria for discontinuation of isolation or of transmission-based precautions. Contact tracing during the person’s second episode of symptoms is warranted.

How long should I stay in home isolation if I have a COVID-19 infection?

Positive. The test detected the virus and you have an infection. Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.

Tell your close contacts. Wear a well-fitted mask when around others. If available, a N95 or KN95 respirator is recommended. Watch for symptoms.

How long do I need to stay in isolation if I have symptoms of COVID-19 but my symptoms are better?

If you continue to have fever or your other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end your isolation until you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.

How long do I need to stay isolated if I test positive for COVID-19?

If you test positive, you should isolate for at least 5 days from the date of your positive test (if you do not have symptoms). If you do develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days from the date your symptoms began (the date the symptoms started is day 0).

How long do long haulers last after testing negative for COVID-19?

For some people, COVID-19 symptoms can last anywhere from four weeks to six months after testing positive for the virus. These patients, given the name "long haulers", have in theory recovered from the worst impacts of COVID-19 and have tested negative.

What is multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)?

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a serious condition associated with COVID-19 where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

What are Post-COVID conditions or Long COVID?

Post-COVID conditions (PCC, or Long COVID) are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you already had COVID-19 and recovered?

If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a COVID-19 vaccine? You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system.

Can an antibody test be used to diagnose a current COVID-19 infection?

An antibody test cannot be used to diagnose current COVID-19 because an antibody test does not detect SARS-CoV-2. Only COVID-19 diagnostic tests can be used to diagnose current COVID-19. A positive antibody test result can be used to help identify people who may have had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or prior COVID-19.

Can you get COVID-19 if you already had it and have antibodies?

It is important to remember that some people with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 may become infected after vaccination (vaccine breakthrough infection) or after recovering from a past infection (reinfected).

Is it normal for COVID-19 symptoms to last more than 10 days?

People with post-COVID conditions can have a wide range of symptoms that can last more than four weeks or even months after infection. Sometimes the symptoms can even go away or come back again.

How long after COVID-19 isolation should I wear a mask?

During the 10 days after infection, persons might be infectious to others and are recommended to wear a well-fitting mask when around others, and to avoid contact with those at elevated risk for severe disease, even if ending isolation after 5 days.

Can I get COVID-19 again?

The risk of reinfection — yes, it is possible — is not insignificant. The data show that unvaccinated adults are twice as likely to get COVID-19 a second time than those who get vaccinated after recovering. "Anyone who can get vaccinated, regardless of whether or not they've had COVID-19, should do so,".

How long is the stability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

Pfizer-BioNTech has submitted data to FDA supporting the stability of their COVID-19 vaccine when stored for up to one month (31 days) at 2°-8°C (standard refrigerator temperature).

How long does the protection from Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 booster vaccine last?

The most recent research from the CDC suggests that protection from the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines starts to fade around 4 months after a booster dose.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine boost your immune system?

Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.