Covid transmits quickly from person to person, and the new Delta variant, which is now the prevalent strain in the US, is believed to be much more infectious than earlier strains.
If you get Covid, you’ll have to isolate yourself to protect others, but when are you most likely to pass it on?
The duration between viral exposure and onset of symptoms (known as the incubation period) is estimated to be between 2 and 14 days.
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However, symptoms usually emerge four to five days following contact.
If a person is infected with Covid, they may become contagious 48 hours before experiencing symptoms.
This is worrisome because, according to Harvard Medical School, individuals are most likely to transmit Covid to others 48 hours before they show symptoms.
That’s one of the reasons individuals are being encouraged to get regular Covid testing as you may be infected with the virus and unintentionally transmitting it to others before your symptoms appear.
According to health officials:
One in every three individuals infected with COVID-19 has no symptoms but may still infect others.
This is why it is recommended that everyone be checked on a regular basis.
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