The incubation period for COVID-19 is the number of days between when you’re infected and when you might see symptoms. Managing editor Tami Roleff gives a break down of how long you should isolate if you are potentially exposed…
For COVID-19, symptoms show up in the newly infected person, on average, about five days after contact but symptoms may appear as soon as two days after exposure. Most people with symptoms had them by day 12. And most of the other ill people were sick by day 14. In rare cases, symptoms can show up after 14 days. Some people may have the coronavirus and never show symptoms. Others may not know that they have it because their symptoms are very mild. Researchers estimate that people who get infected with the coronavirus can spread it to others 2 to 3 days before symptoms start and are most contagious 1 to 2 days before they feel sick.
