COVID-19 symptoms typically appear within 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, with the average incubation period being about 5 days. This means that most people who develop symptoms will start to feel them around five days after being infected, although it can range from as early as 2 days to as long as 14 days or more in rare cases
. Research has shown that the incubation period can vary depending on factors such as the amount of virus exposure, how quickly the virus replicates, and the individual's immune response
. Early in the pandemic, the average incubation period was around 5 to 6 days, but with newer variants like Omicron, the incubation period has shortened to about 3 days on average
. In summary:
- Typical incubation period: 2 to 14 days
- Average incubation period: about 5 days (can be shorter with newer variants)
- Symptoms may start mild and progress over several days
- Common early symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, and fatigue
This incubation period informs quarantine guidelines, which often recommend a 14-day observation period after exposure to prevent further spread
