After learning possibly how long the novel coronavirus can survive on surfaces, researchers now have an idea of how long the virus lives inside the bodies of those infected by it. Researchers in China studied data from some 191 COVID-19 patients, including 54 who died, who were treated at Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital. They concluded that the virus’s RNA can live in a patient’s body an average of 20 days, but up to 37 days, or about 5 weeks. Currently, those infected with the virus have been recommended to remain in self-isolation for 14 days, a period of time that has been said to be the incubation period for the virus. Researchers in China studied data from some 191 COVID-19 patients, including 54 who died, who were treated at Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital. They concluded that the virus’s RNA can live in a patient’s body an average of 20 days, but up to 37 days, or about 5 weeks. Currently, those infected with the virus have been recommended to remain in self-isolation for 14 days, a period of time that has been said to be the incubation period for the virus. The researchers noted that the finding “has important implications for both patient isolation decision making and guidance around the length of antiviral treatment.” Source
