COVID-19 symptoms typically last from a few days up to two weeks for mild to moderate cases, with most people starting to feel better within about a week and recovering within two weeks
. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 14 days after infection and peak around 3 to 5 days
. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and loss of taste or smell
. For severe cases, symptoms can last much longer—sometimes for several weeks or even months
. Some individuals experience lingering symptoms known as long COVID or post- COVID syndrome, where symptoms such as extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, and muscle pain persist for weeks to months after the initial illness
. Most people recover fully within 12 weeks, but a minority have symptoms lasting longer
. Vaccination tends to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms and lowers the risk of developing long COVID, although breakthrough infections can still occur with mild or no symptoms
. Isolation guidelines generally recommend staying isolated for at least 5 days from symptom onset and until fever-free for 24 hours, with precautions continuing up to 10 days
. In summary:
- Mild to moderate COVID symptoms: about 7–14 days
- Severe COVID symptoms: can last weeks to months
- Long COVID symptoms: weeks to months, sometimes longer
- Vaccination reduces symptom severity and duration
This range reflects variability depending on individual health, age, vaccination status, and severity of infection
