On average how long after are you likely to catch covid from someone who's positive...

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

My parents may have been exposed to some one that may have covid The person thought they had a cold as didn't have a fever or loss of taste only a phelmmy cough which has since got worse so now the person's gone for a test. I'm so, so worried as both my parents are in their 70's. Obviously we have to wait for the test results and hope its negative. I know they say 10 day isolation but wondering if theres generally a time scale for people to catch it? The idea of waiting 10 days to see if my parents are clear makes me feel sick 😔

Usually around 4-6 days but can be up to 10 days.
Sorry to hear you must be so worried!

Phlegmy cough sounds more like a cold though. Covid cough is dry and rasping

I'm so worried especially as the person didn't test initially because they didn't have the classic covid symptoms but obviously the new strain is different again. I can only pray to God they are OK. I wish there was more guidance on the new symptoms 😔

@Savoretti

Phlegmy cough sounds more like a cold though. Covid cough is dry and rasping

Oh god I really, really hope so. They are only testing now because it's gone on for longer then normal and not feeling any better. They should never have gone near my parents regardlessand put them at risk.

Just wanted to say I had Covid and had a phlegmy cough, not dry, and no fever.
Hopefully you’ll get results soon

There was a little in the news today (BBC website maybe) - less likely to report changes to smell/taste, more likely to cough, have shortness of breath and sore throat. But not massive differences.

Remember, even if their contact is positive, and even if they have caught it from that person, statistically they'll both probably be fine.

They should be fine, my wife caught covid, me and our little girl didnt catch it, was the longest 10 days of my life tho

Thank you for the reassurances. I'm just so annoyed the person saw my parents when they weren't well even though they genuinely thought they had a cold. I think because they are working from home they are immune but they still go to the shops 🙁

I’ve read that 95% of people that develop it will do so within 6 days of exposure but there will be people that take 10 days or possibly longer.

My colleague came to work with a 'cold' on the Wednesday. WE worked together in a small office
On Thursday she went off sick
On Friday she returned and I wasn't there as had booked some leave for the following week
On Monday she worked with another colleague in same small office
On Tuesday she went off sick and had a covid test.
I became unwell on the Tuesday so a full six days after being with her
I hadn't had any contact with anyone else from the Wednesday to the Tuesday
We've both been very unwell with Covid
The other colleague had to self isolate but didn't get tested as didn't develop any symptoms

I was 8 and I know others who were 8.

Average is 2-5 days. I had a phlegmy cough and cold and it wasn't covid, just a winter cold.

Thank you the test results have just come back negative can't believe how quick it was. They are really suffering though with the cough, it's impossible to know if you have covid symptoms or not. I wonder how accurate the tests are in picking up the new variant 😔

Hope everyone is OK OP.

The false negative rate was 30% with the old variant, I don't think it's supposed to have changed much with the new.