How long is COVID contagious?

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For most people, the contagious stretch runs from a day or two before symptoms start through about five to ten days after, with the peak around the first days of symptoms - people with severe illness or weakened immune systems can stay contagious for weeks. The CDC no longer runs on fixed isolation day-counts; instead, the current respiratory-virus guidance sets a condition-based exit: you can return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better overall and you have had no fever without fever-reducing medication - and then you take added precautions for the next five days: mask, cleaner air, and distance around others. Reading between the lines, "improving and fever-free" typically lands around days five to ten for a mild case. The vulnerable-person caveat is the one to hold onto: the clock that matters is not when you feel fine but when you stop being a risk to the 80-year-old you are about to visit - keep the extra precautions when they are in the picture. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you time your own exit.

How long is COVID contagious?

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