When can COVID-19 symptoms begin to appear?

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever or chills.

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.

When is someone with COVID-19 considered infectious?

"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.

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.

Is it possible to test positive for COVID-19 after symptoms appear?

“The high percentage of positive antigen test results during the 5–9 days after symptom onset reinforces the importance of correct and consistent mask use during this period,” the CDC said.

PBS NewsHour full episode, June 30, 2022

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.

How long can you test positive with an at-home COVID-19 rapid-antigen-test?

At-home antigen tests may return positive results for 10 days -- or even longer, up to 14 days, according to The New York Times. Public health experts have said its been difficult to understand what that means in terms of contagiousness since rapid tests cant always predict that with accuracy.

Is someone with COVID-19 still contagious after recovering?

The results, the team said, may indicate that a large number of people with COVID-19 are still likely contagious after the first five days of their illness, even if they feel fully recovered.

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.

Are recovered persons with persistent positive test of COVID-19 infectious to others?

Persons who have tested persistently or recurrently positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA have, in some cases, had their signs and symptoms of COVID-19 improve. When viral isolation in tissue culture has been attempted in such persons in South Korea and the United States, live virus has not been isolated. There is no evidence to date that clinically recovered persons with persistent or recurrent detection of viral RNA have transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to others.

Despite these observations, it’s not possible to conclude that all persons with persistent or recurrent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are no longer infectious. There is no firm evidence that the antibodies that develop in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection are protective. If these antibodies are protective, it’s not known what antibody levels are needed to protect against reinfection.

What do I do if I have mild symptoms of COVID-19?

If you have milder symptoms like a fever, shortness of breath, or coughing: Stay home unless you need medical care. If you do need to go in, call your doctor or hospital first for guidance. Tell your doctor about your illness.

Can I have COVID-19 if I have fever?

If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19.

What can you take to lessen the mild COVID-19 symptoms at home?

Using over-the-counter medications when necessary. If you have a high fever, you can take a fever reducer, such as acetaminophen, to help bring it down. If you have body aches, a sore throat or cough, a pain reliever can help lessen the discomfort these symptoms can bring.

What are the guidelines for people who test positive for COVID-19?

Stay home, except to get needed medical care. Stay home from work and school, and avoid other public places including the store. If you must go out, avoid public transportation or ridesharing/taxis. Stay far away (6 feet or more) from other people. Wear a mask at all times and wash or sanitize your hands often.

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.

How long does it take to recover from COVID-19?

Fortunately, people who have mild to moderate symptoms typically recover in a few days or weeks.

What should I do after recovering from COVID-19?

What does this mean for you? Even after recovering from COVID-19, it's imperative that you get vaccinated and continue to practice the preventive measures that protect yourself and others from the virus, including social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands regularly.

How long do COVID-19 antibodies last?

At this time, it is unknown for how long antibodies persist following infection and if the presence of antibodies confers protective immunity.

How strong is immunity after a COVID-19 infection?

How Strong Is Immunity After a COVID-19 Infection? About 90% of people develop some number of protective antibodies after a COVID-19 infection, according to the CDC. But how high those levels climb appears to be all over the map.

How accurate are rapid COVID-19 tests?

Positive results are usually highly accurate but negative results may need to be confirmed with a PCR test. Rapid tests are most effective one to five days after symptoms start.

What does a false-positive COVID-19 antigen test result mean?

A false-positive antigen test result means that the test says the person has COVID-19 but they are actually do not have COVID-19.

How accurate is the at-home QuickVue rapid COVID-19 test?

Quidel QuickVue rapid test Two lines mean a positive result. Accuracy: For people with symptoms, the QuickVue test correctly gave a positive result 83.5% of the time. It also correctly gave a negative result 99.2% of the time.

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.

What can I drink if I have COVID-19?

Water should be your No. 1 choice for drinking fluids. But you can have other drinks that contain water, such as lemon juice (diluted in water and unsweetened), tea, and coffee. Do not consume too much caffeine, and avoid sweetened fruit juices, syrups, fruit juice concentrates, and any drinks that contain sugar.

What are some treatments for COVID-19?

Remdesivir (Veklury; Gilead) was the first drug approved by the FDA for treating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is indicated for treatment of COVID-19 disease in hospitalized adults and children aged 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kg. The broad-spectrum antiviral is a nucleotide analog prodrug.