According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after someone tests positive for coronavirus, they can return to their normal life just 10 days post-symptoms. However, according to a new study published Tuesday in British Medical Journal via CNN, it may take weeks longer—and up to a month—for the virus to actually and symptoms subside. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.1 Only 60.6% of Patients Cleared the Virus 15 Days After Their First TestDr. Francesco Venturelli of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and colleagues analyzed 1,162 coronavirus patients in the Reggio Emilia Province of Italy. All tested positive via a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. 15 days after their first test, they were tested again, finding that 60.6% tested negative. 2 They Also Tested 14 Days After the 2nd Test and 9 Day After Their 3rdAccording to researchers, who also tested patients 14 days after their 2nd test and again, 9 days after their 3rd, it took about 30 days from diagnosis and 36 days from the onset of symptoms for patients to clear the virus.3 Age Impacts Recovery TimeThe researchers noted that age definitely impacted the time it took for the virus to clear. Those under 50 took an average of 35 days to recover, while those over 80 took 38. 4 Severity of the Virus Also Impacts Recovery TimeIndividuals battling the virus with less severe infections at home took about 33 days to shed the virus, while hospitalized patients took about 38 days.5 They Also Confirmed That 1 in 5 Negative Results Are False Negatives Researchers also point out another important finding: one in five negative coronavirus tests are actually false. This could mean that many people infected with the virus are still shedding it after testing negative, passing it to others without even knowing it. 6 Patients Should Wait a Month… Or Longer Before Reentering Society Nearly 87% of coronavirus patients tested negative 34 days after the first symptoms of the virus. Therefore, patients should wait a month before assuming they have cleared the virus, according to researchers. 7 However, the CDC Maintains People Don't Need to Be Retested These findings go against the CDC's recommendations, claiming that you don't need to be retested for the virus. "Unless your illness required hospitalization, you can return to normal activities (e.g., work or school) after the passage of 10 days from the onset of symptoms and 24 hours from when any fever has subsided on its own (without the aid of any fever-reducing medications)," they write in their guidance. As for yourself: Stay healthy during this pandemic, and once again don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.
