Does the COVID-19 Delta variant cause more serious illness?

• Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated persons. In two different studies from Canada and Scotland, patients infected with the Delta variant were more likely to be hospitalized than patients infected with Alpha or the original virus strains.

How long can long COVID-19 symptoms last?

Long COVID is a range of symptoms that can last weeks or months after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 or can appear weeks after infection. Long COVID can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if their illness was mild, or if they had no symptoms.

How much more contagious is the Delta variant of COVID-19?

• The Delta variant is more contagious: The Delta variant is highly contagious, more than 2x as contagious as previous variants.

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.

Is it possible to have lingering symptoms of COVID-19?

“Some symptoms of COVID-19 linger longer than others,” says Dr. Septimus. “In particular, fatigue and loss of taste and smell can persist beyond the period of contagion.”

While uncomfortable and/or inconvenient, Dr. Septimus adds that these lingering symptoms aren’t too worrisome for most people.

What is a common COVID-19 symptom of long haulers?

Brain fog is among the most confusing symptoms for long haulers. Patients report being unusually forgetful, confused or unable to concentrate even enough to watch TV. This can happen to people who were in an intensive care unit for a while, but it’s relatively rare.

How long is someone with COVID-19 infectious?

Infectiousness peaks around one day before symptom onset and declines within a week of symptom onset, with an average period of infectiousness and risk of transmission between 2-3 days before and 8 days after symptom onset.

What can I do to recover from COVID-19 at home if I have mild symptoms?

Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better. Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care.

How long does it take to develop immunity after a COVID-19 infection?

Although the immune correlates of protection are not fully understood, evidence indicates that antibody development following infection likely confers some degree of immunity from subsequent infection for at least 6 months.

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

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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.

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 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.

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 the person who has clinically recovered from COVID-19 continue to wear a cloth face covering in public?

Yes. It is recommended that all persons, with a few exceptions, wear cloth face coverings in public.

Should fully vaccinated persons isolate themselves from others if they get infected with COVID-19?

Although the risk that fully vaccinated people could become infected with COVID-19 is low, any fully vaccinated person who experiences symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from others, be clinically evaluated for COVID-19, including SARS-CoV-2 testing, if indicated.

Can you still have detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA after recovering from COVID-19?

Some people who have recovered may have detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in upper respiratory specimens for up to 3 months after illness onset, albeit at concentrations considerably lower than during illness, in ranges where replication-competent virus has not been reliably recovered and infectiousness is unlikely.

How long after being infected with COVID-19 can multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) occur?

This new and serious syndrome, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A), occurs in adults who were previously infected with the COVID-19 virus and many didn’t even know it. MIS-A seems to occur weeks after COVID-19 infection, though some people have a current infection.

What does my negative COVID-19 test result mean?

Negative test results in persons with known SARS-CoV-2 exposure suggest no current evidence of infection. These results represent a snapshot of the time around specimen collection and could change if the same test was performed again in one or more days.

Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have recovered from COVID-19?

If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine? Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 because: Research has not yet shown how long you are protected from getting COVID-19 again after you recover from COVID-19. Vaccination helps protect you even if you’ve already had COVID-19.

How long can COVID-19 antibodies be detected in blood samples?

Antibodies may be detected in your blood for several months or more after you recover from COVID-19.

How are COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 related?

The novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, is a potentially deadly virus that can lead to COVID-19.

Can you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have antibodies?

Studies show that people who have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 can improve their level of protection by getting vaccinated.

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have been treated with monoclonal antibodies?

People who were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma or people who have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or children (MIS-A or MIS-C) may need to wait a while after recovering before they can get vaccinated.