The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has made it important for us all to stay aware and vigilant against infection. While you should take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself from catching the virus, knowing when symptoms of COVID-19 can manifest is equally important. Thus, if you are exposed to the virus, you can take timely action and safeguard yourself and others. One such important aspect of the COVID-19 virus is COVID 19 incubation period.

After being exposed to and catching a virus, you do not become instantly ill. This is because the virus requires time to replicate and make copies within the cells in your body. It is only after the virus has multiplied and reached a high number in your body that you will begin to feel the symptoms.

Thus, an incubation period is a period between you first catching the virus and when your symptoms first begin to appear. The incubation period varies according to the kind of virus you have been infected with. For instance, the incubation period for the common flu is short, ranging from 1 to 4 days. On the other hand, incubation periods for viral infections like Hepatitis B are longer, with symptoms taking 60 to 150 days to appear.

As of 2021, the incubation period for the novel coronavirus infection is around 2 to 14 days after exposure. According to a report published during the earlier stages of the pandemic, more than 97% of the people who contracted COVID-19 showed symptoms within 11.5 days of exposure. The average incubation period within which people with COVID-19 develop symptoms was estimated to be around 5 days.

However, with the emergence of the new Delta variant, the incubation period seems to have shortened. Since this variant replicate at a faster rate, the incubation period for it was 4 days, which was 2 days shorter than the 6 day period of the original strain.

The symptoms most commonly found amongst COVID-19 patients have been:

• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue

Other symptoms include chills, sometimes accompanied by frequent shaking, muscle aches and pains, shortness of breath, stuffed or runny nose, sore throat, headache, loss of smell and taste, etc.

The onset of symptoms may be ordered differently for different people. Also, while some people may experience mild and moderate symptoms, others might experience severe symptoms and can require hospitalisation or emergency care. People with co-morbidities, weakened immune systems, and old age are prone to developing intense symptoms.

To protect yourself from the COVID-19 virus, it is essential to follow protocol to stay safe. Make sure to wear a mask when you step out, wash your hands with soap and water, use sanitiser, and most importantly, get fully vaccinated for your safety. If you do test positive for COVID-19, isolate yourself and seek professional diagnosis and treatment if needed.

Now that you know more about the coronavirus incubation period make sure to watch out for symptoms so you can identify a COVID-19 case and protect yourself and others.

The pandemic has also shown us the importance of having health insurance. If you still don’t have medical insurance coverage, do reach out to a general insurance company today to cover yourself and your loved ones.