Omicron: How Long Will You Be Contagious? When Can You Be Around Other People After Having COVID?

When Are People with COVID Most Contagious?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that its guidelines have been updated to reflect growing evidence suggesting that transmission of COVID-19 often begins one to two days before symptoms appear and continues for two to three days afterwards [1].

Data from the CDC indicates that there is virtually no risk of transmission after seven days. As for the five- to the seven-day window, there can be some variation depending on the vaccination status, underlying conditions, etc., but overall, the risk drops quite a bit, and the general feeling is that with the masking, etc. the risk is very low.

In the case of individuals without symptoms, CDC guidance states that they are considered contagious at least two days before their positive test.

How Long Is Omicron’s Contagious Period?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID is most contagious one to two days before someone experiences symptoms and between two and three days after.

The time it takes for someone to become infected following exposure to COVID is becoming shorter. It is taking less time for symptoms to appear, for someone to become infectious, and for many people to recover. Experts contend that this is partly due to the fact that more people are vaccinated [2].

According to data, most people are no longer infectious seven days after experiencing symptoms or initially testing positive, particularly when vaccinated, and the vast majority are no longer infectious after ten days [3].

Health experts have stated that the official guidelines are inadequate and that they risk spreading the Omicron variant unknowingly by dismissing them as symptoms of a common cold.

Is Omicron Less Severe Than Previous Covid Variants?

The Omicron variant has been found to be far more transmissible than Delta, which in turn was more infectious than prior strains.

Nevertheless, it appears to cause fewer severe symptoms, and risk assessment findings show a reduction in the relative risk of hospitalisation for adult Omicron cases compared with Delta.

Researchers have found that it appears to cause much less damage to the lungs than previous variants, which caused scarring and respiratory difficulties. According to research on mice and hamsters, Omicron caused less-damaging infections, often confined largely to the upper respiratory tract: the nose, throat, and windpipe [4].

However, the WHO has advised against referring to the strain as mild.

In spite of the fact that Omicron appears to be milder than Delta, especially among those who were vaccinated, this does not imply that it should be classified as mild, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a Geneva briefing. Omicron, like previous variants, is hospitalising people and killing them.

Despite the fact that Omicron and Delta may seem like a cold to most of us, they can still be deadly or cause long-term symptoms that disrupt daily life, especially for those who have not been vaccinated or are immunocompromised.

How Do I Know If I Have COVID-19, The Flu, Or Just A Cold?

Since the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is the dominant strain, distinguishing it from other strains is becoming more challenging. In spite of having been vaccinated and boosted, you can still develop symptoms. Still, these are more likely to be mild to moderate in severity. There is still the risk of severe symptoms that could be life-threatening for those who are not vaccinated.

People experiencing flu-like symptoms should assume that they have COVID. Consider getting tested or conducting a home test if possible. If the test is positive, you should remain at home for five days. Although you had a negative test when your symptoms began, you should still stay at home for two or three more days to monitor your symptoms and prevent the spread of the infection [5][6].

This is because there is a possibility of false negatives with antigen tests, which means you can still have COVID even if your test is negative. Therefore, you may wish to consider testing again before leaving the house. Once you are ready to leave home, continue to wear the mask for at least five additional days.

When Can You Be Around Other People After Having COVID?

If you have symptoms, you can be around others when you have isolated yourself for five days and have stopped exhibiting symptoms. However, as a precaution, you should continue to wear a mask for five days following the end of your symptoms [7].

When Should You Call A Doctor?

Those who have COVID-19 or may have it are advised to watch out for warning signs and to seek medical attention immediately if they experience any of the following symptoms [8]:

• Breathing difficulties
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Skin, lips, or nail beds with pale, grey, or blue hues, depending on skin tone

The CDC states that this list does not include all possible symptoms. Therefore, please contact your physician if you experience any other symptoms that are serious or concerning to you.