Doctors from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens’ Therapeutic Clinic, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Yiannis Danasis, Panos Malandrakis, and Thanos Dimopoulos (Rector of EKPA), answer questions about the coronavirus’s incubation period. The scientists summarize the most recent data and respond to five pertinent questions.
What is the incubation period? The incubation period is the number of days between when a person is infected with the virus and when they begin to show symptoms. During a virus outbreak, decisions about the length of quarantine are made based on the virus’s incubation period.
What is the SARS-CoV-2 incubation period? COVID-19 symptoms appeared on average 5.6 days after contact with a known case, according to data collected during the first wave of the pandemic. In rare cases, symptoms appeared as soon as two days after exposure. The majority of those who developed symptoms did so by day 12 after being exposed to the virus. In a small percentage of cases (1%), symptoms appeared after 14 days. Some people can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 but never show symptoms. Others may be unaware that they are infected because their symptoms are so mild.
What is the incubation period for the Delta strain?The new Delta strain, which is now common in Europe and America, contains mutations that allow the virus to produce a greater load of viral particles in the body. This makes the Delta variant more than twice as contagious as other variants. According to a Chinese study, the viral load can be up to 1,000 times that of previous strains of SARS-CoV-2. According to research, the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 spreads faster and has a shorter incubation period than previous variants. The Delta strain requires approximately 4 days to incubate.
When are we most infectious? Individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 are contagious 2 to 3 days before symptoms appear and highly contagious 1 to 2 days before symptoms appear.
What should a vaccinated person do if they become infected with SARS-CoV-2? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vaccinated person exposed to SARS-CoV-2 should be tested 3-5 days after exposure to the virus, even if there are no symptoms. Wearing a face mask in confined public spaces is strongly advised for 14 days after exposure or until you test negative for COVID-19.
Sources: EKPA