How long does COVID stay contagious?

Contagiousness is about passing the virus to another person; it is different from how long a cough, fatigue, or smell change lasts. Someone may feel better while still needing to take sensible precautions, and a lingering symptom does not by itself prove that they remain contagious.

The period can vary with the severity of illness, immune health, and the result of testing. A person with a weakened immune system may need individual advice because infection can last longer. Long COVID symptoms such as fatigue or low mood are not the same as ongoing contagiousness.

Stay home and limit close contact while you have fever or feel acutely unwell. When you resume necessary activities, improve ventilation, avoid crowded indoor spaces, consider a well-fitting mask, and protect people at higher risk of severe illness.

Use testing according to current local guidance, especially before contact with someone vulnerable. Do not use the persistence of fatigue, loss of smell, or loss of taste alone to decide whether you are infectious.

Ask for medical advice if symptoms worsen after initial improvement, fever persists, or you have a condition that affects immunity. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pressure, new confusion, inability to stay awake, or blue or grey lips or skin.

Ask when it is reasonable to return to work or school, whether you need repeat testing, and what precautions are appropriate around vulnerable household members. Share when symptoms began and whether they are improving.