Those infected with Delta can infect others two days before showing symptoms

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Those infected with the Delta variant of coronavirus could infect people two days before developing symptoms, Head of the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit, Department of Immunology Molecular and Molecular Medicine of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, said.

Dr. Jeewandara said that on average, those infected showed symptoms 5.8 days after infection. It was 1.8 days after they first tested positive for viral RNA. Thus, those infected with the delta variant could infect people two days before they showed any sign of COVID-19.

Those infected with other variants of SARS-CoV-2 took an average of 6.3 days to develop symptoms and 5.5 days to test positive for viral RNA.

As a result, 74% of Delta infections took place during the pre-symptomatic phase.

“Vaccination remains a vital, effective and a significant part of our response to COVID-19, as vaccinated people are 65% less likely than unvaccinated individuals to infect someone else,” he added.