Coronavirus symptoms: The number of days it takes for signs of the deadly virus to appear

CORONAVIRUS has now claimed it’s fifth UK victim and health officials have warned there will be “many thousands of people” to be infected across the country. How long does it take for symptoms to appear if someone is infected, and what are the signs of the deadly virus?Italy is now under nationwide lockdown with all public gatherings cancelled and schools and universities closed. In the UK, the number of cases has risen by 46, bringing the total number of cases up to 319. Prime Minister Boris Johnson held an emergency meeting yesterday and number 10 revealed that the UK would remain in the containment phase of its response to the coronavirus after chairing the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBRA) meeting. This outcome means measures to reduce social interactions will not yet be introduced but the situation is being closely monitored. For those concerned about the possibility of infection, what is the exact amount of days it takes for the virus to show symptoms?

New research has found the exact average incubation period of COVID-19 to begin showing symptoms of an infection.

Experts, led by researchers from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, studied 181 cases of people who were confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus.

The researchers conducted an analysis of news reports, public health reports and press releases which included information on likely dates of exposure and when symptoms started.

The experts found that it takes exactly 5.1 days for symptoms to develop signalling an infection.

The health experts found that almost all (97.5 percent) of those who develop symptoms appeared to do so within 11.5 days of infection.

The estimates, published in the Journal Annals of Internal Medicine, estimates that 101 out of every 10,000 cases will develop symptoms after 14 days of active monitoring or quarantine.

Justin Lessler, an associate professor in the Bloomberg Schools Department of Epidemiology said: “Based on our analysis of publicly available data, the current recommendation of 14 days for active monitoring or quarantine is reasonable, although with that period some cases would be missed over the long-term.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the common signs of infection include cough, fever and shortness of breath.

WHO states a lesser known sign of the virus which includes fatigue. Other symptoms which could signal a warning you may be infected include aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and even diarrhoea.

The novel coronavirus symptoms seem to mostly focus on fever and cough, but gastrointestinal symptoms should be anew focus, according to health experts.

Former studies on SARS, which is related to the coronavirus and can present with similar symptoms, showed that SARS was verified in patients after detection biopsy specimens and stool.

How to protect yourself against COVID-19

WHO stated: “Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and thought your national and local public authority.

COVID-19 is still affecting mostly people in China with some outbreaks in other countries.” You should take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:

  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Maintain social distancing
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
  • Practice respiratory hygiene
  • If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
  • Stay informed and follow the advice given by your healthcare provider

The Foreign Office is wanting British citizens against all but essential travel to the country, while airlines across the globe have suspended flights as the outbreak continues.

It’s been advised that anyone with even just a mild fever should isolate themselves for a week as Britain is expected to soon move into the next stage of fight the epidemic.

There arena more than 114,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 4,000 related deaths worldwide.

source: express.co.uk