Jan 22, 2022 · And now, data is becoming available on how long Omicron symptoms can stick around, suggesting the virus may run its course in about seven days. "Those with a mild case of COVID-19 usually recover...
Jan 27, 2022 · Data has shown that most people who catch Omicron will recover in less than a week. According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study, 70 per cent of patients recover from Omicron symptoms in seven days. This compares to only 44 per cent of those who had Delta.
Jan 22, 2022 · And now, data is becoming available on how long Omicron symptoms can stick around, suggesting the virus may run its course in about seven days. "Those with a mild case of COVID-19 usually recover within one to two weeks," Lisa Maragakis, MD, wrote in an article for Johns Hopkins Medicine. But, she adds: "For severe cases, recovery can take six weeks or …
Dec 30, 2021 · In a new study released Tuesday, the CDC shared that the incubation period for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is about 73 hours, or three days. Here's what to know about a virus' incubation period.
Omicron’s shorter symptom duration was more prominent among people with three vaccine doses. Symptoms lasted about 7.7 days during the Delta-dominant months and 4.4 days during the Omicron-dominant months, meaning a difference of 3.3 days.
Acute COVID-19. Active illness can last one to two weeks if you have mild or moderate coronavirus disease, but severe cases can last months. Some people are asymptomatic, meaning they never have symptoms but do have COVID-19.
Those with a mild case of COVID-19 usually recover in one to two weeks. For severe cases, recovery can take six weeks or more, and for some, there may be lasting symptoms with or without damage to the heart, kidneys, lungs and brain.
Recovery in memory within six months and improvement in attention within nine months of COVID infection was seen in this study, suggesting that some cognitive impairments with COVD, even if widespread, are potentially reversible.
“Patients can also have gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, and loss of taste or loss of smell, although I've seen that a lot less with the newer variants,” she said, noting that symptoms for BA.2 may also include muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, and congestion.
The Omicron variant spreads more easily than earlier variants of the virus that cause COVID-19, including the Delta variant. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection, regardless of vaccination status or whether or not they have symptoms, can spread the virus to others.
Close-up of young man getting PCR test at doctor's office during coronavirus epidemic.
"If you have N95/KN95/KF94 masks, get in them immediately," said Dr. Prowell. "If you have only one, put the sick person in it for source control. If you have >1 but not enough for all. put the sick one and the highest risk (older, immunocompromised) people in them.
"The first thing to say is that if someone has COVID-19 symptoms (Omicron most common: nasal congestion/runny nose, scratchy sore throat, fever, and aches), you have to assume they have it. You may not have a test (urgent cares are still open and do) or they may still be negative," said Dr. Prowell.
"If you have N95/KN95/KF94 masks, get in them immediately," said Dr. Prowell. "If you have only one, put the sick person in it for source control. If you have >1 but not enough for all. put the sick one and the highest risk (older, immunocompromised) people in them.
"If you don't have any N95/KN95/KN94 masks, please see if a nearby friend or neighbor has unused ones you can have and order them replacements. The nonprofit Project N95 is a great place to get them.
"Now it's time to create the space where the infected person or people will isolate for 10 days to let Omicron run its course," said Dr. Prowell.
"This whole scenario assumes that things are going OK with the person who has Omicron," said Dr. Prowell. "How do you know if they are OK? If you have a pulse oximeter (O2 sat monitor)—the thing doctors put on your fingertip to measure O2—use it." (For how to use it, see here.) "If you don't have a pulse oximeter, many pharmacies carry them.
"If the person with Omicron is high-risk (especially immunocompromised, organ or bone marrow transplant, active cancer, pregnant, diabetes, older, etc), they should contact a doctor even if they seem ok. There are outpatient treatments that significantly lower risk of being hospitalized.
"If you are not the sick person, but one of the exposed, and you can walk-up/drive-up (NOT indoors and ONLY in a mask!) to get vaccinated, do it. If age 16+ and 6+ mos post dose 2 of vaccine (or 2+ post J&J), go get boosted now! The booster protects within a week!"
Early evidence suggests that for most people, at least those who are up to date on their Covid vaccines, omicron appears to cause milder illness that can resemble the common cold, another form of the coronavirus.
There is also emerging evidence that omicron tends not to burrow deep into the lungs as much as previous variants. A study, which was posted online by the University of Hong Kong and not yet peer-reviewed, found that while omicron is less severe in the lungs, it can replicate faster higher up in the respiratory tract.
According to early data, the time it takes for an infected person to develop symptoms after an exposure may be shorter for omicron than for previous variants — from a full week down to as little as three days or less.
Symptoms appear to last three to five days for most patients, said Sharma.
Given the potential for a shorter incubation period, Vanderbilt's Schaffner advised that anyone who has been in contact with an infected individual get tested about 72 hours following the exposure.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, agreed.
Though much remains unknown about omicron, experts say the variant could lead to long Covid, even with a mild case.