From Infection to Recovery: How Long It Lasts
Covid-19’s duration varies widely depending on severity, but now we know the rough range
In the early weeks of the Covid-19 crisis, little was known about the wide range of possible symptoms and the typical progression of the disease. Now, well into the coronavirus outbreaks, doctors and researchers are finally getting a handle on the typical duration of the illness and how it plays out.
It all starts when a person is infected by SARS-CoV-2. The virus, entering most often through the mouth, nose, or eyes, gets into the respiratory system and incubates before announcing itself through symptoms. This incubation is a bit like a chicken egg developing before it hatches.
Covid-19 is known to take anywhere from two to 14 days before it triggers symptoms, with a median of four to five days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are known exceptions, up to 19 days. During incubation, a person can be infectious. It’s not yet known how early the period of infectiousness…
