While people become less contagious over time, they are still contagious with COVID for an average of eight days. That may vary depending on factors including underlying health conditions and the severity of illness.
You should isolate for at least 5 days counting from the day you began feeling sick (Day 0 is the day you began feeling sick; Day 1 is the next day). If you have no symptoms, then isolate for 5 full days after the day you tested positive (Day 0 is the day you took your positive test; Day 1 is the day after).
“In the early days of the pandemic, it was recommended to isolate for 10 days after having a positive COVID test. And then a few years ago, the CDC changed its recommendation: you could come out of isolation five days after receiving a positive test and wear a mask for the additional five days.”
Stopping the Spread of COVID-19 to Others Stay home unless you need medical care. Don't go to work or school and avoid public places like stores. Stay away from others. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Call your close contacts.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you can pass on the virus to other people. You need to: stay at home for 5 days.
“A big study came out in the fall of 2023 which showed that most people are the most contagious on day four of symptoms with COVID and then it wanes from there,” said Dr. Roberts. While people become less contagious over time, they are still contagious with COVID for an average of eight days.
If you are sick or test positive for a respiratory virus, it is important to take steps to help prevent the spread of the virus to others in your home and community and to reduce your likelihood of getting very sick. Stay home and away from others, get tested if accessible, and get treatment if you are eligible.
People with COVID-19 can be infectious from 1–2 days before and up to 8–10 days after symptoms begin. The majority of transmission appears to occur during the early periods of infection, particularly in the 1–2 days before symptoms start and within the first few days of symptom onset.
While people become less contagious over time, they are still contagious with COVID for an average of eight days. That may vary depending on factors including underlying health conditions and the severity of illness.