The incubation period of the delta variant is not thought to differ from the original COVID-19 infection that circulated last year.

The time between infection and symptoms begin to show up is otherwise known as the incubation period.

Scientists worked out the incubation period for the virus by studying dozens of confirmed cases reported between January 4 and February 24, 2020.

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These cases included only people who know that they had been around someone who was infected.

On average, symptoms showed up in newly infected people about five days after contact.

In some instances, symptoms appeared as quickly as two days after exposure, but most people with symptoms would have them by Day 12.

The other sick people investigated were clearly ill by the time Day 14 came around.

In some very rare cases, symptoms can show up after 14 days, with researchers estimating this happens with about one in every 100 people.

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Some people may have Covid and never show symptoms, however, which is one of the scary things about the virus.

Others may not know that they have it because their symptoms are very mild, mistaken for a different virus or common cold.

Researchers estimate that people who get infected with the coronavirus can spread it to others two to three days before symptoms begin, and are most contagious one to two days before they feel sick.

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If you think you’ve been around someone with Covid, your best bet is to take a test and ensure you don’t have it – whether you’re showing symptoms or not.

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