How long can COVID Last?

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7:56a, 8/31/20

AG

Let's say someone got COVID 3 weeks ago and does not have any symptoms for about 8 days.

Three Questions:
1. Would you say they can still be a spreader?
2. Would you recommend getting tested before coming back to work?
---
3. In general, how long can someone be a spreader?

Keegan99

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8:01a, 8/31/20

AG

(1) is a "No" and (3) is "up to 10 days after symptom onset".

"The likelihood of recovering replication-competent virus also declines after onset of symptoms. For patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, replication-competent virus has not been recovered after 10 days following symptom onset (CDC, unpublished data, 2020; Wlfel et al., 2020; Arons et al., 2020; Bullard et al., 2020; Lu et al., 2020; personal communication with Young et al., 2020; Korea CDC, 2020). Recovery of replication-competent virus between 10 and 20 days after symptom onset has been documented in some persons with severe COVID-19 that, in some cases, was complicated by immunocompromised state (van Kampen et al., 2020). However, in this series of patients, it was estimated that 88% and 95% of their specimens no longer yielded replication-competent virus after 10 and 15 days, respectively, following symptom onset."

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html

(2) is more of a political and legal question. There is no scientific need to be tested.

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8:33a, 8/31/20

AG

How does this fit in, regarding # 2 in OP? I see some specific unrelated things to the general public, but if HCP are taking these precautions, should the general public? Kind of reminds me of when they said don't use masks (except HCP), but then reversed their opinion and said everyone should use them: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/return-to-work.html

Quote:
Who this is for: Occupational health programs and public health officials making decisions about return to work for healthcare personnel (HCP) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, or who have suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection (e.g., developed symptoms of COVID-19) but were never tested for SARS-CoV-2.

Quote:
A test-based strategy is no longer recommended (except as noted below) because, in the majority of cases, it results in excluding from work HCP who continue to shed detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA but are no longer infectious.

Quote:
Test-Based Strategy for Determining when HCP Can Return to Work.
In some instances, a test-based strategy could be considered to allow HCP to return to work earlier than if the symptom-based strategy were used. However, as described in the Decision Memo, many individuals will have prolonged viral shedding, limiting the utility of this approach. A test-based strategy could also be considered for some HCP (e.g., those who are severely immunocompromised1) in consultation with local infectious diseases experts if concerns exist for the HCP being infectious for more than 20 days.
The criteria for the test-based strategy are:
HCP who are symptomatic:
Resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
Improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), and
Results are negative from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected 24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens) tested using an FDA-authorized molecular viral assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. See Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
HCP who are not symptomatic:
Results are negative from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected 24 hours apart (total of two negative specimens) tested using an FDA-authorized molecular viral assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. See Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

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10:36a, 8/31/20

AG

If you didn't already have a test to confirm you got the disease, it is probably worth getting one. The reason is there a lot of long-term complications being reported with this disease, and people who have that stuff pop up or finding it very difficult to get treatment if they didn't have a positive test to prove they actually had coronavirus. Even if there's no symptoms now and hopefully never will be, it's still potentially useful to have an official record of being infected.

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11:08a, 8/31/20

AG

Let me ask this a different way. If you are in a corporate office environment, would you require a test of someone if they had a confirmed positive test 20 days ago and have been symptom free for 8 days and counting?

What about 30, 40, 50 days?

We have been mostly work from home since March and I'm looking to bring people back slowly over the next month or two max.

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In reply to Premium • 11:14a, 8/31/20

AG

Quote:
If you are in a corporate office environment, would you require a test of someone if they had a confirmed positive test 20 days ago and have been symptom free for 8 days and counting?

Would I? No. There is no evidence to support the notion that such an employee is a risk.

But that sounds like a question for your legal counsel, not an internet message board.

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In reply to Keegan99 • 11:16a, 8/31/20

AG

Keegan99 said:

Quote:
If you are in a corporate office environment, would you require a test of someone if they had a confirmed positive test 20 days ago and have been symptom free for 8 days and counting?

Would I? No. There is no evidence to support the notion that such an employee is a risk.

But that sounds like a question for your legal counsel, not an internet message board.

Why pay a lawyer when I have you guys ?

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In reply to Premium • 12:36p, 8/31/20

AG

Premium said:
Let me ask this a different way. If you are in a corporate office environment, would you require a test of someone if they had a confirmed positive test 20 days ago and have been symptom free for 8 days and counting?

What about 30, 40, 50 days?

We have been mostly work from home since March and I'm looking to bring people back slowly over the next month or two max.

My son tested positive and was instructed to get tested again in 10 days. He tested positive again but the doc wrote him a note saying he's safe to be around others. They said you can continue to test positive for weeks but after those 10 days there is no risk to anyone.

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10:47a, 9/1/20

The virus stops shedding after 7-8 days and you're not contagious after that. I tested positive for covid 3 months ago and still have lingering symptoms til this day. I've been around others this entire time and no one has gotten infected from me.

My doctor said it's somewhat common for the virus to linger for a few months after, but without being contagious. The same happens with Mono.