For most people with mild to moderate COVID-19, symptoms typically last about 7 to 10 days, with recovery usually occurring within 1 to 4 weeks
. Mild cases often improve within a week, and individuals generally start feeling better 5 to 7 days after symptoms begin
. Severe cases can take longer to recover, sometimes lasting up to 12 weeks or more
. Some people experience symptoms that persist beyond the acute phase, a condition known as long COVID, where symptoms may last weeks, months, or even years after the initial infection
. Common lingering symptoms include fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and cognitive difficulties ("brain fog")
. Vaccination tends to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, with vaccinated individuals often recovering faster and experiencing milder illness compared to unvaccinated people
. However, the virus can still be present in the body longer than symptoms last, with some studies suggesting viral remnants may persist from months up to two years, although this does not necessarily mean infectiousness
. In summary:
- Mild to moderate COVID: symptoms last about 7–10 days; recovery in 1–4 weeks.
- Severe COVID: symptoms and recovery can last up to 12 weeks or longer.
- Long COVID: symptoms persist beyond 12 weeks in some cases.
- Vaccination helps reduce symptom severity and recovery time.
- Viral presence can last longer than symptoms, but infectiousness usually ends within about 10 days for most people
Isolation and precautions are recommended until symptoms improve and fever resolves for at least 24 hours to reduce transmission
