Yes, you can still be contagious after 5 days, especially with respiratory viruses like the flu or COVID-19, though contagiousness usually peaks earlier; the CDC recommends staying home until your fever-free for 24 hours (without meds) and symptoms are improving, then taking extra precautions (masking, distancing) for the next 5 days to protect vulnerable people.
You can be contagious for 1-2 days before symptoms appear and up to 8-10 days following symptom onset. You can spread the virus even if you do not have symptoms. Social distancing should continue until, for at least 24 hours, symptoms improve and you're fever-free without medications.
When your symptoms are getting better overall and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours, you are typically less contagious, but it still takes more time for your body to fully get rid of the virus.
After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time. Some tests, especially NAAT tests, may continue to show a positive result for up to 90 days. Reinfections can occur within 90 days, which can make it hard to know if a positive test indicates a new infection.
“Individuals infected with Influenza A or B are typically contagious one day before symptoms appear and up to 5-7 days after symptom onset. However, young children, immunocompromised individuals and those with severe illness may remain contagious for a longer period,” says David A.
Contagious period with the flu
Flu takes one to four days to incubate in your system after you come into contact with the virus. You have the potential to spread flu before symptom appear. You are contagious for about three to seven days after symptoms appear.
Most healthy children and adults with the flu can infect others beginning about one day before developing any symptoms and up to seven days after the symptoms resolve. People with weakened immune systems can remain contagious for up to several weeks.
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover. For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.
Can you be contagious after a negative COVID test? If you test negative with a PCR test, you are likely not contagious. But if you test negative with an at-home test, the answer will depend in part “on whether the negative COVID test is at the beginning of feeling sick or on the way to recovery,” Mina says.
Adalja says. “The less dark, the line is, the less viral material that is present,” he says. “This could reflect diminishing contagiousness, or the start of it.”
The COVID virus has more success surviving on hard surfaces, such as glass and plastic, than on porous ones like bedding. Once the virus lands on a porous material like a fabric, the droplets evaporate much quicker than they do on a hard surface.
Taking vitamin C every day to try to prevent colds won't protect most people from colds. It only slightly shortens the amount of time that they're ill. Starting to take vitamin C once you already have cold symptoms won't have any effect on your cold.
Antigen testing is recommended. If the result is negative, repeat testing should be done. You should NOT be retested if you tested positive for COVID within 30 days and do not have COVID symptoms.
Anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 can pass the virus onto others. Find out how to manage symptoms and protect those around you if you test positive for COVID-19.
This starts from the day you first had symptoms. This is because you may still be infectious for up to 10 days.
Day 4-5: Symptoms become more pronounced; fever, cough, and fatigue intensify. Day 6: Potential appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or diarrhea. Day 7: Heightened symptoms which may include difficulty breathing and persistent chest pain.
Ending isolation: You can end isolation after 5 days if you test negative (use an antigen test) on Day 5 or later – as long as you do not have a fever and your symptoms are getting better.
People with a respiratory virus should stay away from others until at least 24 hours after both symptoms are improving overall and they have not had a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.
The COVID-19 virus also can spread if people touch their eyes, noses or mouths after touching a surface with the virus on it. Without cleaning and disinfection, the COVID-19 virus may stay on surfaces from hours to days.
7 Steps to Take After a Virus Has Hit Your Home
Similarly, if you no longer have body aches, a sore throat, or a headache, you'll know that your COVID-19 infection is on its way out. You'll start to get your energy back, too.
The "worst days of COVID" vary for individuals (often peak illness days 5-10 for severe symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue) and globally (major surges in 2020, winter 2021, Omicron waves in 2022-2023), marked by hospitalizations, deaths, and societal disruption, but the enduring struggle is "Long COVID" with persistent symptoms like extreme fatigue, brain fog, and heart issues, impacting daily life for months or years after the initial infection.
Both influenza A and B viruses survived for 24-48 hr on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic but survived for less than 8-12 hr on cloth, paper, and tissues.
The virus is still finding its new norm. Even so, a few things about this season's ongoing torment are clear. Much of the blame rests on the season's dominant flu variant—subclade K, which belongs to the H3N2 group of influenza.
Remember, the virus is killed by hot temperatures, so if you do clean your sheets and towels, use the hot temperature setting instead of warm.