How Long Does COVID-19 Last?

On average, a mild to moderate COVID-19 infection lasts for 10 days. However, how quickly you bounce back from a COVID-19 infection depends on various factors, including your health before the infection, any underlying conditions you may have, and which variant of the virus you have contracted.

This article will cover how long you can expect to have symptoms, pass your infection to others, and fully recover from the newest variants that cause COVID-19 infection.

Average Recovery: How Long COVID-19 Lasts

The average recovery time of COVID-19 infections can vary based on what you consider "recovered." Some people never develop any symptoms with a COVID-19 infection, some have mild infections, and others go on to fight severe illness.

With Mild Symptoms

People with a mild to moderate COVID-19 infection have symptoms like:

• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Diminished the sense of smell
• Muscle aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sore throat
  

Symptoms like shortness of breath don't usually occur with mild to moderate COVID-19, and blood oxygen levels don't typically fall below normal limits.

Mild to moderate illness from COVID-19 usually lasts an average of 10 days. For some people, symptoms fade in a matter of days; for others, it takes weeks.

Even mild COVID-19 cases can progress to long COVID or post-COVID syndrome, in which ongoing symptoms remain long after the initial infection. A healthcare provider may diagnose you with long COVID if you've had unresolved symptoms for more than one month.

According to one report, 10% to 30% of people infected with asymptomatic, mild, or moderate infections develop long COVID.

After Exposure

Generally, the incubation period between your initial exposure to the virus and when you begin to notice symptoms is between two and five days. You can be infectious to others during this time, especially in the two days before your symptoms start. You can also pass a COVID-19 infection to others if you have a COVID-19 infection but never develop symptoms.

Beyond the incubation period, the duration of your symptoms and overall illness varies, but how long your incubation period lasts could be linked to how long you are sick and can pass the illness to others.

If Vaccinated

People vaccinated against COVID-19 or those who have natural immunity (having acquired the disease through infection) can still be infected with COVID-19 again.

The severity and duration of the repeated illness depends on what strain you were vaccinated against, what strain is causing your current infection, and how much time has passed since your most recent COVID-19 infection and/or immunization.

One study suggests that infections in people vaccinated against COVID-19 can last as little as two days, and these infections are usually less severe compared to those in people who are not immunized against COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all Americans over age 12 have at least one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, released in September 2023, regardless of prior infection or vaccination status.

New Strains 

Newer COVID-19 strains have shorter incubation periods. Older variants could incubate for up to 14 days, but two to five days for incubation is more common for more recent versions of the virus.

Some studies suggest that the length of the incubation period predicts the length of illness, with a shorter incubation period leading to a faster recovery.

The recommendation from the CDC is to isolate yourself for the first five days of symptoms. Most people recover around day 10 but may still be contagious to others. The CDC recommends masking between days five and 10 to minimize transmission.

How Long Does Long COVID Last?

Symptoms can continue for days to weeks if you have mild to moderate illness with a COVID-19 infection. Long COVID is a diagnosis that healthcare providers may consider when you have ongoing problems related to your COVID-19 infection for four weeks or more.

One of the distinguishing features of long-term COVID-19 is an evolving set of symptoms. Active COVID-19 infections can feature 20 symptoms or more during the infection, and symptoms may change or come and go throughout the recovery period. One study found that post-acute COVID symptoms ranged anywhere from two weeks to 100 days.

It is unclear exactly how long post-COVID syndrome can last. Some of the earliest people infected have reported long COVID symptoms for months to years after the initial illness.

What Factors Determine COVID Duration?

The specific variant that causes your COVID-19 infection has a lot to do with how long your illness lasts. However, additional factors can contribute to infection duration, such as:

• Your age
• Having diabetes
• Having high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Whether you are immunocompromised
• Having obesity
• Being pregnant
  

After Testing Positive: Duration of Symptoms

Some people never develop any symptoms of their COVID-19 infection, but most people infected with recent variants develop symptoms between two and five days after exposure. Symptoms can last for around two weeks.

The CDC recommends isolating for the first five days after a positive COVID-19 test or the start of symptoms and masking around others to prevent transmission until the 10th day after a positive test or the onset of symptoms.

Can You Shorten How Long COVID Lasts?

Maintaining good health practices can help you build a robust immune system that can fight viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). You can also protect yourself by practicing good hand hygiene and avoiding people you know are sick.

Vaccination is another strategy that can help shorten the duration of a COVID-19 infection. Vaccines may not protect you against COVID-19 100% of the time, but they have been shown to lessen the duration and severity of the illness if you become infected.

Summary

COVID-19 is a viral illness that can appear with various symptoms lasting days to weeks. People who get COVID-19 can develop long COVID—ongoing problems from the infection that lasts years—regardless of illness severity.

Individuals with weakened immune systems or multiple health problems also usually have a longer road to recovery after COVID-19. Maintaining your overall health and staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations can help reduce the severity and duration of the illness.