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Covid

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Original poster

What are peoples experiences of the covid incubation period?

27 replies

MerinoFroggie · 02/01/2021 16:37

What are peoples experiences here of the covid incubation period?

It is said the incubation period is up to 14 days. Has anyone here experienced a 14 day incubation period?

My partner finished work on Christmas eve and I am anxious that he could have been exposed to the virus through his work. So far he has no typical covid symptoms. He is a bit snuffly today but that is it. He also has a sore back. So my mind is racing thinking this could be the start of a viral infection but there's no typical covid symptoms so he is not isolating. I do think he should be restricting his close contacts. He has past experience of a sore back so it's probably that and not aches and pains associated with a viral infection/flu type illness.

I am probably just super paranoid and I hope I am super paranoid. The poor man tried to kiss me today and I kept my mask on, LOL. I will settle down and become less anxious as the days go by and as the incubation window phases out.

OP posts:

Jsummersun · 02/01/2021 17:22

This is a question I’ve been Googling. I have not found the answer! They say the mean time is 5 days and that most will have symptoms by 11.5 days. (Something like 95% can’t remember the number exactly).

There is no way of knowing the incubation period an individual will have as everybody is different. I think that’s why it’s such an anxious time.

I tested positive on Boxing Day day and have no idea where I caught it.

Every day without symptoms is a bonus!

PuzzledObserver · 02/01/2021 17:56

Well....

DH works in a care home and was in work M,Tu,Th,Fr last week, then on leave.

Started sneezing/runny nose a bit over the weekend, but then coughed a lot on Monday night. Since Tuesday is staff testing day, he decided to go in anyway and get a test. When they handed over the kit, they told me the home was in outbreak.

He still hasn’t got his test result if you can believe it, but I coughed and felt a bit rubbish on Thursday, so got a test and I’m positive.

Assuming he was infectious at the weekend, that makes my incubation 4-5 days.

wannadisc0 · 02/01/2021 18:03

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Saylethewayles · 02/01/2021 18:06

My brother's friend had the following timeline:

Wednesday- sees relative. Relative is feeling fine.
Thursday- relative starts coughing, gets test.
Friday - brother's friend has sore throat, attends work as not one of the "main" symptoms.
Saturday- relative receives positive result, friend gets fever and cough, gets tested and tests positive.

Icenii · 02/01/2021 18:06

My dad has had very mild cold symptoms since Monday and I'm worried it will develope into something more.

Saylethewayles · 02/01/2021 18:08

I would advise anyone feeling unwell to get a test at the moment, even if they don't have any of the three "main" symptoms.

Northernsoullover · 02/01/2021 18:09

@Saylethewayles

My brother's friend had the following timeline:

He probably asked on mumsnet about his sore throat and got told not to test

Saylethewayles · 02/01/2021 18:11

Tbf he actually did want to isolate and get a test but his employer said he wasn't allowed to because sore throat wasn't a symptom. Now all eleven of their staff are self isolating

Northernsoullover · 02/01/2021 18:18

@Saylethewayles

Tbf he actually did want to isolate and get a test but his employer said he wasn't allowed to because sore throat wasn't a symptom. Now all eleven of their staff are self isolating

bloody hell

whywhywhydaliah · 02/01/2021 18:26

I got symptoms Friday evening. DH symptoms Thursday evening. So six days.

AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 02/01/2021 18:37

It was 7 days until I showed symptoms but 15 days before I showed one of the main 3 (lost my smell). Before that it was aches, fatigue, headache and nausea. Fortunately as I knew I was a close contact I tested, but I’m sure many people who aren’t aware could put those symptoms down to something else and carry on (not that I could carry on when the fatigue hit, but you know what I mean)

hm246 · 02/01/2021 18:57

Not sure where I picked it up or how many’s days I was asymptotic but from first symptom was as follows,
Day 1, very runny nose.
Day 2 tired, run down feeling. sore throat.
Day 3 change of smell and taste. Started to cough.
Day 4 requested a test.
Day 5 results- positive.

I would advise anyone who just feels unwell to now get a test. I now know 3 people who’s first symptom was a ‘runny nose’ yet the website says you don’t need to test if that’s your only symptom.

Original poster

MerinoFroggie · 02/01/2021 20:17

Thank you all so much for your replies. They are very interesting to read.

Wishing you all the very best in your covid journeys and for anyone recently diagnosed - I hope you get well soon.

This virus scares me so much. It can start of so mild, its so easy to dismiss and symptom and continue on with your day and whatever plans set out. It would be easy to transmit it then and it's no wonder why it's spiralling out of control.

Today is day number 9 after my partner finished work. I don't know if he was exposed in his work but I suppose there is a chance. He had a runny nose today. It was only ever so slight. My anxiety is through the roof.

OP posts:

starrynight19 · 02/01/2021 20:19

Mine was seven days to symptom 9 days to positive test.

Iamsodonewith2020 · 02/01/2021 20:25

I tested positive 8 days after contact with positive person but had symptoms from day 5

Ding123 · 02/01/2021 22:46

I started with symptoms last night. Terrible headache, then fever and chills. Felt a bit sick. Paracetamols every 2 hours really helped.
Today the headache is mild but fever and chills come and go. Have tiredness, backache but I had DC 8 weeks ago and had terrible backache for weeks after due to his positioning. It's the same sort of postpartum pain
Hoping to go and get tested tomorrow but let's see what day 3 brings.

I'm struggling to look after DC I have my sister on standby incase I need her to take him. (She's in my support bubble as child under 1 and already had covid).

Ding123 · 02/01/2021 22:48

Sorry to answer your question, I'm unsure when I caught it. Dh has had a slight sniffle and believes he caught it around the 24th. His result came back today as positive and has had symptoms for 5 days.

Newt432 · 02/01/2021 22:53

I had symptoms and tested positive. My symptoms didn’t start of typical. Just body aches.
My son had symptoms 7 days later.

If you download the Zoe app and input your symptoms (whatever they may be) then often the app will recommend getting a test.

When you go to register for a test you select the bit where it says why are you getting a test as you were informed by the app.

Lifeispassingby · 02/01/2021 22:57

Isn’t the incubation period 10days? That’s why contacts isolate for 10days?

Icenii · 02/01/2021 23:03

Hi Ding can you check your paracetomol instructions as every 2 hours is exceeding the dose. I'd hate for you to make yourself ill.

FirsAndFairylights · 02/01/2021 23:13

Yes @Ding123 that sounds like too much paracetamol. Please be very careful.

Ding123 · 02/01/2021 23:18

Sorry just realised I put 2 hours. I meant 2x every 4 to 6 hours (baby + Corona brain!) But I didn't feel the need to take any this morning so I haven't exceeded the maximum amount allowed in 24 hours.

Osirus · 02/01/2021 23:24

The average time between infection and symptoms is 3-5 days. Around 97.5% get symptoms within 10 days. It’s very rare to get symptoms after 10 days.

This is why the isolation period is now 10 days rather than 14.

Osirus · 02/01/2021 23:25

My BIL had symptoms 5 days after being infected (he knows who gave it to him). His partner developed symptoms the very next day, so 3-5 days after catching it from him.

Choconuttolata · 02/01/2021 23:34

DH symptomatic with fever, two days later I started sneezing and had runny nose, no other symptoms, DH found out PCR positive. 2 days after that I tested positive on lateral flow test and then PCR and developed a sore throat and mild joint pain. Only 2 days ago which is 9 days after DH became symptomatic and 7 days after runny nose/sneezing started did I get some shortness of breath, never a fever or a cough. Loss of smell started today.

IMO we need to change the symptoms guidance for isolating/testing like they have done in the US.

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