How long after exposure to COVID are you contagious?

People are thought to be most contagious early in the course of their illness. With Omicron, most transmission appears to occur during the one to two days before onset of symptoms, and in the two to three days afterwards. People with no symptoms can also spread the coronavirus to others.
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When do you start being contagious with COVID-19?

A person with COVID-19 is considered infectious starting 2 days before they develop symptoms, or 2 days before the date of their positive test if they do not have symptoms.

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What is the incubation period for COVID-19?


People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of issues from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

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What should I do after my last close contact with COVID-19?


Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling. If you don't get tested, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact with a person with COVID-19.

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Is COVID-19 infectious after 7 days?

Most people with COVID-19 are no longer contagious 5 days after they first have symptoms and have been fever-free for at least three days.
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Are you still contagious 10 days after the first day of COVID-19 symptoms?

So, there is potential for people to be infectious beyond their seven-day isolation if they are still symptomatic. After ten days, most people are not infectious. Multiple studies have shown there is very little, if any, transmission after day ten, regardless of the variant.
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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.

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When should you take a COVID-19 test if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19?


If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, test yourself at least 5 days after your exposure. If you test negative for COVID-19, consider testing again 1 to 2 days after your first test.

If you are going to an indoor event or a gathering, test yourself immediately before or as close to the time of the event as possible. This is especially important before gathering with individuals at risk of severe disease, older adults, those who are immunocompromised, or people who are not up to date on their COVID

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What are the CDC recommendations for people exposed to COVID-19?


Anyone who tests positive or has symptoms should follow CDC recommendations for isolation to stay home from their school or ECE program. People who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 should follow CDC recommendations to quarantine, get tested, and wear a well-fitting mask.

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Can I get a COVID-19 infection if I was in close contact but I dont have symptoms?


If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 but were a close contact to someone with COVID-19, and you tested negative 5 days after exposure: The virus was not detected. You are likely not infected, but an infection cannot be completely ruled out.

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What are the symptoms of the COVID-19?

Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Common symptoms may include: fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.

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Can you keep testing positive for COVID-19 and not be contagious?

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 doesnt mean they are contagious.
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Do I have to quarantine if I have been exposed to COVID-19?


If you come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should quarantine if you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. This includes people who are not vaccinated.

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Do I need to quarantine if I tested positive for COVID-19 within the past three months?

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms.
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Should I get tested for COVID-19 if I develop symptoms?

• People who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should get tested. While waiting for test results, they should stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in their household.
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How long can someone test positive on a COVID-19 rapid antigen test?

Two-plus years into the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists still arent sure how long people who catch coronavirus remain infectious, The Wall Street Journal reports. Some people keep testing positive with rapid tests beyond five days, and some even test positive after 10 days, the newspaper reported.
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How long do most people continue to test positive for COVID-19?

According to the New York Times, the omicron variant of the coronavirus moves quickly, with viral levels typically peaking less than five days after the virus is first detectable. However, some people will continue to test positive for the virus even up to 14 days later.
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How long does isolation take after COVID-19 infection if you were severely ill or have a weakened immune system?

CDC recommends an isolation period of at least 10 and up to 20 days for people who were severely ill with COVID-19 and for people with weakened immune systems. Consult with your healthcare provider about when you can resume being around other people.
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How long should I self-isolate for COVID-19 per the CDC?


You can leave isolation after 5 full days. If you continue to have no symptoms, you can end isolation after at least 5 days. You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10 (day 6 through day 10).

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How often can you take Paxlovid?

“With Paxlovid, you take three pills, twice a day, for a total of five days," says Rachel Kenney, a pharmacist at Henry Ford Health. "It helps your body fight off the virus, preventing it from replicating before it becomes serious.”
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How long do lingering symptoms last after COVID-19?


Symptoms. People with post-COVID conditions (or long COVID) may experience many symptoms. 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.

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What does day 5 of COVID-19 isolation mean?

If you have mild symptomsexternal icon, day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive, and day 1 is the first full day following the day your symptoms started. Persons with mild symptoms should isolate for a full 5 days after symptom onset (i.e., days 0 through 5) and until symptoms have improved. 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. Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days following your onset of symptoms to limit spread to others in the home or other close contacts.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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