how long are you infectious with covid

People infected with COVID-19 are generally infectious starting about 1-2 days before symptoms begin and remain contagious for about 8 to 10 days after symptoms start. The period of highest contagiousness is usually 1-2 days before and shortly after symptoms appear. Most individuals with mild to moderate illness are unlikely to be infectious beyond 10 days from symptom onset. Some with severe illness or weakened immune systems may remain infectious for longer, potentially up to 3 weeks. Even during the incubation period before symptoms, people can spread the virus. After the infectious period, if symptoms have resolved and there is no fever for 24 hours, isolation can usually end but precautions like mask-wearing may still be recommended. This infectious period may vary slightly depending on the COVID variant and individual factors.