There are signs that we may now be past the peak of infections, but case numbers remain high, and hospitalisations and deaths are rising. The increase in cases comes at a time when the Government has scrapped free testing, meaning people now have to pay to check if they have the virus. The NHS has also updated its official list of symptoms, adding nine more signs of coronavirus that scientists have long been pushing to be recognised. With cases high, here’s what you need to know about infection, how long it can last and how long you can test positive for.
How long will I feel ill with Covid?
The NHS says most people with Covid-19 or will feel better within a few weeks. For many, particularly people who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster, it will be just a few days. However, data from the Zoe Covid study, which has been researching the virus since the start of the pandemic, suggests one in 10 people may still have symptoms after three weeks, and some may suffer for months. “Our research shows that some people are experiencing fatigue, headaches, coughs, anosmia (loss of smell), sore throats, delirium, and chest pain for more than three weeks after first reporting symptoms in the app,” the study says.
What are the official Covid symptoms?
The NHS now lists the following as official Covid symptoms:
High temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) New, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Shortness of breath Feeling tired or exhausted Aching body Headache Sore throat Blocked or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhoea Feeling sick or being sick
The NHS says: “The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.”
What is Long Covid?
Some people will experience what is known as Long Covid – symptoms that linger for months after initial infection. Between 3-5 per cent of people who are affected by Covid go on to have symptoms for longer than 12 weeks that affect their daily life, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The NHS says the chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get the virus. Symptoms of Long Covid include:
Extreme tiredness (fatigue) Shortness of breath Chest pain or tightness Problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”) Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) Heart palpitations Dizziness Pins and needles Joint pain Depression and anxiety Tinnitus, earaches Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite A high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste Rashes
Contact a GP if you continue to experience symptoms several weeks after first testing positive for Covid-19. People with Long Covid will not be infectious for any longer than usual. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Long Covid as as a syndrome that occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, usually three months from the onset of Covid-19 with symptoms that last for at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Zoe data suggests being fully vaccinated halves the risk of developing Long Covid. Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist at the Zoe study, said: “Everyone experiences illness in their own way, and that is certainly no different in Long Covid.”
More on Covid-19
How long can you test positive for Covid?
Most people will stop testing positive within 10 days of starting to experience symptoms, or receiving their first positive test. However, it is possible to continue testing positive for weeks or even months after having the virus. The good news is that even if you are continuing to test positive after a long time, it is highly unlikely you are actually contagious. The Gavi Vaccine Alliance explains: “The time taken to test negative after contracting Covid-19 depends on the severity of the case, and also on the test itself. PCR tests that hunt out parts of viral genetic material (RNA in the case of Covid-19) in our bodies and amplify it so we can detect it are extremely sensitive and can even pick up the presence of few viral fragments. This is because fragments of viral RNA can remain in our bodies long after the infection is over and the virus has been cleared from our system.”
What should I do if I have symptoms?
If you have Covid-19 symptoms you are no longer required to take a test or self-isolate. However, the NHS advises anyone with symptoms to stay at home and avoid contact with others. If you test positive or experience symptoms, the NHS advises taking the following steps:
Try to work from home if you can – if you’re unable to work from home, ask your employer about options available to you; Stay at home if you can – this helps reduce the number of people you have contact with; Avoid contact with people at higher risk from Covid-19, especially if their immune system means they’re at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19, even if they’ve had the vaccine; Follow advice on how to avoid spreading the virus to people you live with; Let people who need to come into your home know that you’ve tested positive or have symptoms – they can then take steps to protect themselves, such as wearing a face covering that fits well, staying away from you as much as they can, and washing their hands regularly; Contact your healthcare provider and tell them about your positive test result or symptoms if you’re asked to attend a medical or dental appointment in person; Ask friends, family or neighbours to get food or other essentials for you.
If you have Covid-19, you can pass on the virus to other people for up to 10 days from when your infection starts. Many people will no longer be infectious to others after five days. Previously, people were advised to leave isolation after five full days if they tested negative two days in a row, or after 10 days if they were continuing to test positive. You can continue to follow that advice if you wish, and you have tests available. If you do not have tests, the NHS advises you try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after first experiencing symptoms, and avoid meeting people who are higher risk for 10 days. If a child or person aged 18 or under tests positive they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days. This starts from the day after they did the test. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious for less time than adults.
When are you most infectious with Covid?
It is believed people are at their most infectious one to two days before the onset of symptoms, and during the two to three days afterwards. For previous variants of Covid-19, such as Alpha and Delta, the World Health Organisation said symptoms could begin to develop anywhere between two days and two weeks after infection. However, the incubation period for Omicron and its offshoots is believed to be much shorter – between three and five days. Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner Dr Allison Arwady told NBC: “As we’ve seen these new variants develop – Delta, now Omicron – what we’re seeing is everything gets sped up. “It is taking less time from when someone is exposed to Covid to potentially develop infection. It is taking less time to develop symptoms, it is taking less time that someone may be infectious and it is, for many people, taking less time to recover. A lot of that is because many more people are vaccinated.” For previous variants of Covid-19, such as Alpha and Delta, the World Health Organisation said symptoms could begin to develop anywhere between two days and two weeks after infection. However, the incubation period for Omicron and its offshoots is believed to be much shorter – between three and five days. Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner Dr Allison Arwady told NBC: “As we’ve seen these new variants develop – Delta, now Omicron – what we’re seeing is everything gets sped up. “It is taking less time from when someone is exposed to Covid to potentially develop infection. It is taking less time to develop symptoms, it is taking less time that someone may be infectious and it is, for many people, taking less time to recover. A lot of that is because many more people are vaccinated.”
