According to government figures, 139,272 people reported positive tests in England and Wales in the seven days to July 1 – a 26.5 per cent increase on the previous week. However, the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, as the government only tracks positive tests recorded on its website and the free test provision has ended. The ZOE Covid study, which has been collecting data throughout the pandemic, says there are currently around 325,000 new infections across the UK every day. It also predicts that around 3.9 million people currently have symptomatic Covid-19. With cases on the rise, here’s what you need to know about getting infected with Covid.
How long after exposure to Covid will I be positive?
For earlier variants of Covid-19, such as Alpha and Delta, the World Health Organization said symptoms could start developing anywhere between two days and two weeks after infection. However, the incubation period of Omicron and its offshoots is believed to be much shorter – between three and five days. It is believed that people are most contagious one to two days before the onset of symptoms and during the two to three days after. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr Allison Arwady told NBC: “As we’ve seen these new variants develop – Delta, now Omicron – what we’re seeing is that everything is accelerating. “It takes less time from the time someone is exposed to Covid to develop potential infection. It takes less time for symptoms to appear, less time to be contagious and, for many people, less time to recover. A lot of that is because a lot more people are vaccinated.” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in December, after the Omicron came out: “Recent analysis by the UK Health Safety Agency shows that the window between infection and virulence may be shorter for the Omicron variant than the Delta variant.” A recent study combined results from seven studies (taking more than 1,300 lateral flow test results related to time of disease onset) to create a model of the false negative rate for Covid over time since infection. Their model suggested that in the first four days of infection (pre-symptomatic phase) the probability of a false negative in an infected person dropped from 100 percent on the first day (meaning a false negative was certain) to 67 percent on the fourth day . It then dropped to 38 percent on the fifth day (the day symptoms started) to a low of 20 percent on the eighth day of infection (meaning one in five people still gave a false negative despite having three days of symptoms ). This means that by the time symptoms appear, there is about a 62 percent chance that you will test positive. This increases to 80 percent within days of the onset of symptoms.
covid symptoms
The NHS lists the following as official Covid-19 symptoms:
High temperature or chills (chills) – a high temperature means you feel warm when you touch your chest or back (no need to take your temperature) New, persistent cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour or three or more episodes of coughing in 24 hours Loss or change in the sense of smell or taste Breathing difficulty Feeling tired or exhausted Body aches Headache Sore throat Congested or runny nose Loss of appetite Diarrhea Feeling sick or sick
How long does Covid usually last?
Most people with Covid-19 will feel better within a few days, with symptoms usually not lasting more than a few weeks. People who have had the triple vaccination are less likely to experience severe symptoms and may also recover more quickly. However, some people will experience what is known as a long Covid. The NHS says the chances of long-term symptoms do not appear to be linked to how ill you are when you first contract the virus. Symptoms of long-term Covid include:
Extreme tiredness (fatigue) Breathing difficulty Chest pain or tightness Problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”) Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) Heart palpitations Dizziness Pins and needles Joint pain Depression and anxiety Tinnitus, earaches Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach pains, loss of appetite High temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes in sense of smell or taste Rash
Contact a doctor if you continue to have symptoms several weeks after first testing positive for Covid-19.
How long can you be Covid positive?
Most people will stop being positive within 10 days of starting symptoms or getting the first positive test. However, it is possible to continue to test positive for weeks or even months after the virus appears. The good news is that even if you continue to be positive after a long time, it is highly unlikely that you are truly contagious. The Gavi Vaccine Alliance explains: “The time it takes to test negative after being infected with Covid-19 depends on the severity of the case, but also on the test itself. “PCR tests that hunt down pieces of viral genetic material (RNA in the case of Covid-19) in our bodies and amplify it so we can detect it are extremely sensitive and can even detect the presence of a few viral fragments. “This is because fragments of viral RNA can remain in our bodies long after the infection is over and the virus has been cleared from our system.”
What should I do if I am positive?
Covid advice varies depending on where you live in the UK. England Isolation is no longer a legal requirement in England, but the NHS advises that people infected with Covid-19 “should stay at home and avoid contact with other people” to help reduce the spread of the virus . In particular, you should avoid close contact with people who are at higher risk from coronavirus, for example if they are elderly or have a weakened immune system, even if they have had the vaccine. Infected people should try to work from home if they can. “If you are unable to work from home, talk to your employer about the options available to you,” says government advice. Positive cases should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day of their test. Scotland The Scottish Government recommends that you follow the advice on NHS Inform. If you test positive, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you were tested or the day your symptoms started (whichever was earlier). If you have not tested positive, you should try to stay home until you feel better. It is also recommended that you take the following steps to keep others safe:
Work from home if you can. If you can’t work from home, talk to your employer about your options Avoid close contact with anyone at higher risk, especially people with weakened immune systems, for 10 days If you have been asked to attend an in-person medical or dental appointment, tell them about your symptoms You may want to ask friends, relatives or neighbors to bring you food and other essentials
Wales Wales continues to offer free lateral flow tests to people who have symptoms. You can order them here. If you develop symptoms of Covid, you should self-isolate and order a test. Keep isolating until you get the result. If the test is negative, you can leave isolation immediately. If you test positive, you are advised to self-isolate for five full days, starting the day after you tested, and then take another test. If the test is negative, take another test the next day. If this test is also negative, you can leave the isolation. If either test is positive, continue isolation until you receive negative tests on two consecutive days or until day 10, whichever is earlier. North Ireland The Northern Ireland government is advising people to self-isolate immediately if they have Covid symptoms or have tested positive. If you develop Covid symptoms, you should self-isolate and order a test. Keep isolating until you get the result. If the test is negative, you can leave isolation immediately. If you test positive, you are advised to self-isolate for five full days, starting the day after you tested, and then take another test. If this test is negative, take another test the next day. If this test is also negative, you can leave the isolation. If either test is positive, continue isolation until you receive negative tests on two consecutive days or until day 10, whichever is earlier.
