When Are You No Longer Contagious With COVID-19?

If you have a COVID-19 infection, it’s important to take the appropriate precautions to avoid spreading the virus.

According to Joseph Bailey, MD, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Medicine, the infectious period for COVID-19 begins one to two days before symptom onset, and viral loads should peak around two to three days after.

“However, the exact period of time someone is contagious varies based on the severity of the COVID infection, vaccination status, and the person’s immune system,” Bailey told Verywell. “People with suppressed immune systems may be contagious for weeks or even longer.”

According to research, patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 are likely no longer infectious about 10 days after symptom onset. But people who are severely ill might have a longer infectious period.

When Can You Stop Isolating?

According to the CDC, people with COVID-19 can stop isolating when their symptoms have improved and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medications. However, after this isolation period, it's encouraged that you take additional precautions for five days, such as wearing a mask, keeping a distance from others, and washing your hands often.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.