Symptoms of COVID-19 typically appear within a median incubation period of about 5 days after exposure to the virus. However, the incubation period can range widely from 2 to 14 days in most cases. Most people (around 97.5%) who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of exposure, though in rare cases symptoms might appear later than 14 days. The range varies depending on factors like the specific variant and individual immune response. Because of this variability, a quarantine period of 14 days is generally recommended after exposure to monitor for symptom development. In summary:
- Median time for symptoms: around 5 days after exposure
- Usual range: 2 to 14 days
- Most symptoms appear within 11.5 days
- Quarantine recommendation: 14 days after exposure
This timing can vary slightly depending on the COVID-19 variant and individual factors, but the 2-14 day window is the most widely recognized incubation period.
