Now, the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is driving a slight uptick in cases in some parts of the country.
Both the original BA.1 and the subvariant BA.2 are known to cause milder infections than Delta and priorvariants.
Heres what you gotta know about Omicron symptom longevity and when its wise to seek medical attention.
Laura Porter / Verywell
What Are the Symptoms Specific to Omicron?
This progression could help health providers distinguish between COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
Congestion and a runny nose follow, along with other symptoms of a classicupper respiratory infection.
People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell.
While Omicron also infects the lungs, it appears to remain much more in the upper airway.
This means people infected tend to cough more and produce more phlegm.
The increased coughing could be part of the reason Omicron and its subvariants are so transmissible.
With the earlier variants, those were dry coughs.
Now its shifting massively to a very mucous-y feeling cough, Galiatsatos said.
Weve found that post-COVID cough tends to linger much longer for more tissue destruction.
How Long Do Symptoms from Omicron Last?
The average patient will experience symptoms for about five days, Morris said.
For some, symptoms last as much as 10 to 14 days.
Others experience no symptoms at all.
In some cases, individuals will continue to feel symptoms even when they are no longer contagious.
Galiatsatos agreed, saying fatigue and a dry cough may linger for a few weeks after the infection clears.
If those and other COVID-19 symptoms persist after several months, its time to speak with a doctor.
It has the playbook and knows how to get rid of the virus pretty darn quickly, Galiatsatos said.
Being vaccinated also substantially reduces ones risk of long COVID-19.
This means being diligent about isolation and mask-wearing, and getting tested for COVID-19 after potential exposure.
And not catching it means wearing a face mask, Galiatsatos said.
Enjoy life, just do it with a face mask.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
2020;8:473. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00473
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Quarantine and isolation.
