The body’s reaction to COVID-19 varies greatly among individuals, including the duration of recovery from the virus.

According to Dr. Christopher P. Culler, MD, a primary care pediatrician at Nemours Children’s Health in Florida, recovery time from COVID-19 is “patient dependent.” While many individuals feel improvements within a week, some may deal with lingering symptoms for months post-infection.

We consulted experts for a recap on the usual symptoms of COVID-19, when recovery may happen, and when it’s important to consult a physician.

What is the timeline for COVID symptoms?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those infected with COVID-19 may show a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe.

Dr. Culler mentions that the COVID-19 XEC variant represents the latest development of the virus. So far, no specific symptoms have been tied to the XEC variant.

As stated by the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 generally surface between two to 14 days after infection begins. Initially, patients may feel unwell, followed by symptoms like fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and headaches, according to Culler. These signs are part of a “common basket of symptoms” shared with other upper respiratory infections, such as the flu or RSV.

Symptoms from COVID-19 typically reach their peak around three to five days post-infection, although this can vary by patient, Culler adds.

The CDC identifies common COVID-19 symptoms as:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Am I still contagious after 7 days of COVID-19?

<p”COVID-19 behaves similarly to other viruses in that “the virus may still be present long after symptoms have disappeared,” according to Culler. Can someone remain contagious after the seven-day mark? “Probably yes,” he confirms.

Dr. Francesca Torriani, MD, an infectious disease expert at UC San Diego Health, explains that individuals are most contagious during peak infection days (days three to five), when the virus is shed most significantly.

Your contagious period post-COVID-19 infection will likely be affected by your vaccination status, claims Torriani. Current vaccines, targeting circulating variants, significantly reduce disease severity upon infection, as studies indicate.

Typically, most individuals are not as contagious from COVID-19 seven to ten days after the infection, Torriani states. However, older adults or those with weakened immune systems may still shed the virus for a longer duration, prompting recommendations for these groups to isolate for extended periods.

How long does COVID-19 last?

Recovery times can differ based on whether one has a mild or severe case of COVID-19.

For mild cases of COVID-19, “we would generally say recovery takes around two weeks,” according to Torriani. Improvements are usually felt within five to seven days after symptoms commence.

However, some individuals may face symptoms that linger for weeks and even months after the initial infection. A 2022 CDC survey revealed that 6.9% of U.S. adults reported experiencing long COVID, which includes symptoms like severe fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, heart palpitations, muscle pain, and “brain fog,” as described by the NHS.

When to see a doctor for COVID-19

If you have a high fever, shortness of breath, a persistent cough, or any other COVID-19 symptoms that seem to worsen, it’s important to contact your primary care provider, Torriani advises.

Certain groups, such as immunocompromised patients and the elderly, may have access to treatments that lower their chances of severe illness or hospitalization, according to Torriani. If you are in these groups, it’s wise to reach out to your primary care provider to see if such treatments apply to you.