How Long Are You Contagious With COVID-19

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Being sick with COVID-19 isn't easy. Even with a mild case, you have to deal with isolation on top of feeling sick. When you're contagious, staying home protects everyone in your community. But when can you finally go back to your usual routines?

People with COVID are most contagious for the first 5 to 7 days after infection. That means they could spread the virus 1 to 2 days before they develop symptoms and until 3 to 5 days after their symptoms start. So how can you decide when to start and end your isolation? Here's everything you need to know about when you're most contagious with COVID.

How long is someone with COVID-19 infectious?

The short answer is that you're contagious with COVID for about 10 days after you have symptoms or test positive. The full answer is more complicated.

The 10-day mark seems to apply to people who have mild to moderate COVID illness.

People with severe cases of COVID illness can remain infectious for several weeks or months. There's also evidence that people with a weakened immune system are infectious for longer.

On the other hand, some people stop being contagious faster. This seems to be the case for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID and get a COVID infection anyway. Studies show that these people are contagious for a shorter period of time compared to unvaccinated, infected individuals.

Experts don't know exactly how long a vaccinated individual can spread the virus when they get sick with COVID - especially with newer variants. This is why isolation recommendations are the same, regardless of vaccination status.

Are some variants of the virus more contagious than others?

Yes, some variants are more contagious than others. That's why variants keep replacing one another as the most dominant strain.

The Omicron variant is more contagious than the Delta variant, which is more contagious than the Alpha (original) COVID variant.

What is viral shedding?

Viral shedding happens when a sick person releases copies of a virus from their body. Large numbers of viruses are shed when a sick person coughs or sneezes. But viruses can also be shed when you talk, cry, or breathe. Viral shedding is how viruses spread from person to person.

People typically shed the virus that causes COVID for about 10 days, starting 2 to 3 days before they develop symptoms.

You can assume you're shedding the virus that causes COVID if:

• You have a fever.

• You have COVID symptoms that haven't gotten better yet.

But you can't rely on symptoms alone to tell you if you're shedding the virus. Some people who get sick with COVID never develop symptoms. But these people are still contagious.

That's why experts recommend getting tested for COVID if you've been exposed to someone with COVID infection, even if you have no symptoms.

When do you become contagious after exposure to COVID-19?

It's possible to become contagious with COVID-19 on the same day you are exposed.

Most people who get sick with COVID begin noticing symptoms about 2 to 14 days after exposure. But viral shedding can begin right away. That's why it's possible to spread the virus that causes COVID even before your symptoms start.

Of course, not everyone who gets exposed to COVID picks up the virus. For example, people who are fully vaccinated are much less likely to get sick.

Keep in mind that scientists continue to learn more about COVID. For example, early on in the COVID pandemic, people had symptoms around the same time as they had high levels of the virus. But now research shows that viral loads can peak 3 to 5 days after symptoms start. And this means that a rapid COVID test may not detect the virus until day 4 or 5 of your symptoms. So, when in doubt, err on the side of caution, and consider repeat testing.

When do you stop being contagious if you have COVID-19?

It depends. If you have a mild illness and your symptoms are getting better, you're probably no longer contagious after 10 days.

On the other hand, if you have a severe illness or a weakened immune system, you can be contagious for much longer.

But if you've been fully vaccinated against COVID, you may be contagious for a shorter period of time. It's hard to know exactly.

All of this adds up to a complicated decision when it comes to ending isolation after COVID-19. Fortunately, the CDC has developed an Isolation and Exposure Calculator that can be useful for sorting it all out.

In general, if you had mild symptoms, or if you tested positive for COVID but had no symptoms, the CDC recommends isolating for 5 days. Then, wear a mask for another 5 days, provided your symptoms are improving and your fever is gone.

Masking is recommended for everyone through day 10 because you can still be contagious during this time. Bu, if you had a mild illness, it's been more than 5 days, and you're feeling better, you can try an antigen test. If you test negative 2 times, with 48 hours between the 2 tests, you can remove your mask early.

That said, if you had moderate symptoms - difficulty breathing or shortness of breath during your illness - you should stay in isolation for the entire 10 days.

If you were hospitalized or have a weakened immune system, your risk of spreading the virus is much higher. You'll want to isolate yourself for the full 10 days and talk to your healthcare team before returning to your usual activities.

Do people vaccinated against COVID become contagious if they get sick with COVID?

People who are fully vaccinated against COVID can still get sick. But they're much less likely to get a serious illness. They're also less contagious if they do get sick.

Getting vaccinated against COVID not only protects you, it protects everyone around you. It helps stop the spread of COVID, and it's the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.

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