People with COVID-19 are contagious as long as they remain positive on a rapid test, typically for about 10 days, but often longer. Thats according to new findings presented this week at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen. Omicron Symptoms Long COVID is a post-viral illness that occurs after infection with COVID. To do this, its important to take time for yourself, practice relaxation techniques, and engage in activities that bring you joy. Fatigue is one of the Just a single shot could reduce your risk by 35%, according to Harvard Health. Get the facts. This is how long your Omicron symptoms will last, doctors say Omicron And according to scientists, it makes sense for the incubation period of Omicron infections to be shorter seeing as it's more contagious. Does "Arcturus" COVID variant cause pink eye? What to know That means issues like a cough, scratchy throat and runny nose are all part of current infections, too, Guest said. BA.5 subvariant. The scientists at ZOE Covid study (opens in new tab) have stated that whilst "sneezing is not normally asymptom of COVID-19," they have seen data to suggest that increased sneezing in vaccinated people can be a sign you're infected. Another study, from the CDC, assessed the bivalent vaccines real-world effectiveness against Omicrons newest strains, XBB and XBB.1.5, in people who had previously received two to four monovalent vaccine doses. And these studies suggest that hospitalisation is less likely with Omicron compared to previous strains of the virus. But how long do According to the ZOE symptom tracker app, people have also reported symptoms which aren't usually associated with coronavirus, including diarrhoea, loss of appetite and nausea. And here it was reported that doctors had found cases where several people had been reinfected with Omicron. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as the duration of omicron symptoms varies from person to person. Dr Coetzee added that cases presented "very very mild symptoms". Just as an FYI, the flu can absolutely last 4 days. A Netherlands study (opens in new tab) determined fatigue is "highly prevalent" in long Covid cases. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Omicron Symptoms The Zoe Covid Study looked at symptoms in COVID-19 cases in London in particular, recorded over two separate weeks in October and December. Scientists also wanted to know if these mutations indicated a possible reduction in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and certain monoclonal antibody treatments. They include: To find out if you have the virus, youll need to take a COVID-19 test. Gamma: 11 With the right strategies in place, it is possible to manage omicron symptoms and improve quality of life. A January 2022 study in Denmark showed no difference in the number of hospitalizations caused by BA.2 compared to BA.1. Teens Are in a Mental Health Crisis: How Can We Help? And this is significant: "You can have a re-infection and you can probably find the virus in your nose," he said. Symptoms can vary in duration, but generally last for weeks or months before subsiding. That all said, this reduction in risk doesn't mean omicron will be mild for everyone. Boris Johnson shared the sad news during a visit to a vaccination clinic in West London: "Sadly yes Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.". But it's very possible that doctors and patients are simply paying more attention to these symptoms than they did with earlier variants, says Dr. Scott Roberts, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. Omicron was initially identified in Botswana and South Africa in November 2021although later reports showed earlier cases in the Netherlands. In less than a month, Omicron has blazed into dozens of countries, sending case rates to record-breaking heights. Another difference doctors are noticing: Loss of smell and taste considered a telltale sign of COVID-19 is not nearly as common with omicron infections. Rather, the impact results from the sheer number of people infected over a short period of time.. When it comes to reducing long COVID risk, vaccinating goes a very long way, Dr. Luis Ostroskychief of infectious diseases and epidemiology at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann in Texas, and the infectious diseases director for UTHealth Houstons COVID-19 Center of Excellencetells Fortune. Here's more details on what Omicron symptoms you should look out for: A study in the Journal of Headaches and Pains (opens in new tab) looked into Covid-related headaches. Both the WHO and the CDC classified it as a "variant of concern.". A runny nose is considered a covid symptom when you experience it alongside other identified covid symptoms. And doctors are finding a key difference among their patients who are ending up in the ER or being admitted: Many are neither struggling to breathe nor dealing with perilously low oxygen levels. How long does it take for symptoms to appear? "Omicron can present in a myriad of different ways," he says. Two other treatments, both monoclonal antibodies, had their FDA authorization halted until further notice in response to data that showed they were not effective against the Omicron subvariants that were currently circulating. Further analysis unveiled that groups who were susceptible to this tended to be households with kids. While a previous infection provides some protection, that fades over time and as the virus evolves into different variants. Over-the-counter medications may also be used to help relieve the pain. Those with a mild case of COVID-19 You may have fever, cough and other COVID-19 symptoms.