COVID-19 symptoms typically last anywhere from a few days up to around 2 weeks for mild to moderate cases. Most people start feeling symptoms 5 to 6 days after exposure, and common symptoms last about 1 to 14 days. Severe cases can have symptoms that last longer, sometimes up to 6 weeks or more. Recovery time can vary widely depending on the severity of the illness, with mild cases usually recovering within 1 to 2 weeks and severe cases possibly taking up to 12 weeks or more. If symptoms persist beyond 12 weeks, this may be categorized as long COVID, where a wide range of symptoms can last for months or even years in some cases. Vaccination tends to reduce symptom severity and may speed recovery but does not drastically change the duration of symptoms for those infected. In summary:
- Mild to moderate symptoms usually last about 1 to 2 weeks.
- Severe symptoms can last up to 6 weeks or longer.
- Long COVID symptoms can last 12 weeks or more, sometimes months to years.
- Vaccinated individuals may recover faster and have milder symptoms overall.
This covers typical duration and variability based on disease severity and vaccination status.
