How Long Does It Take for COVID to Go Away? Real Talk
Typical Duration of COVID Symptoms
Let’s start with the basics. For most people, COVID-19 symptoms last around 5 to 10 days. But yeah... it depends — on your immune system, age, vaccination status, and even which variant you caught (Omicron, Delta, etc.).
Mild to moderate cases
These are the most common now, especially if you're vaccinated. People usually experience:
Fever or chills
Cough
Fatigue
Sore throat
Most of those fade within a week or so, though the cough can linger for another few days. Sometimes you feel better... then tired again for no reason. Annoying, but normal.
Severe cases
If it hits hard — especially for folks with underlying conditions — recovery can take weeks. Hospitalized patients might still feel wiped out for a month or more.
A buddy of mine, totally healthy 38-year-old, had COVID and recovered in 8 days. His dad? Took nearly six weeks to breathe normally again. So yeah — it varies a lot.
When Are You No Longer Contagious?
CDC and WHO guidelines
Most sources agree you're contagious 1–2 days before symptoms show up and remain so for about 5 to 10 days after.
Day 0 = first day of symptoms
By Day 5, many people are no longer infectious
By Day 10, the risk is super low (unless you’re immunocompromised)
You can still test positive after that... but that doesn’t always mean you're spreading it. Those lingering positives are usually just dead viral fragments.
Still, wear a mask if you're unsure — better safe than sorry.
Long COVID: When It Doesn’t Go Away
What is Long COVID?
For some unlucky folks, symptoms drag on for months. This includes:
Brain fog
Shortness of breath
Fatigue that just won’t quit
Loss of taste or smell (which can be weirdly persistent)
Honestly, it can be brutal. Around 10–30% of people report long-term symptoms, though exact numbers depend on which study you read.
I know someone who lost his sense of smell in 2021. It’s 2025 now... still gone. He jokes about it, but it’s rough.
Risk factors
Long COVID seems more likely if:
You had a severe infection
You’re unvaccinated
You had certain pre-existing conditions (autoimmune stuff, obesity, etc.)
But yeah, sometimes it just... happens. Even young, healthy, vaccinated people. There’s no perfect pattern.
What Helps Speed Up Recovery?
Rest and hydration (no-brainer, but true)
Sleep. Drink fluids. Take it seriously, even if symptoms feel “mild.” Pushing through too fast can actually slow you down.
Nutrition and gentle movement
Once fever's gone and you can breathe okay, a short walk or stretching can help get the system going again. Also: vitamin C, D, zinc — they won’t cure COVID, but they support recovery.
And please — don’t rely on TikTok remedies (I’ve seen garlic-sock hacks. Just... no).
Medical follow-up
If your symptoms aren’t improving after 10 days, or if something feels off (tight chest, weird heartbeat, heavy fatigue), get checked. Don't “wait it out” forever.
Final Thoughts: So, How Long Does It Take for COVID to Go Away?
For most people?
Symptoms gone in 7–10 days
Contagious for 5–7 days
Back to “normal” in 2 weeks
But hey — not everyone fits the average. Some bounce back in 3 days, others are dragging for a month. And if it's long COVID? That’s a whole other ball game.
So listen to your body. Take it seriously. And give yourself the space to heal — even if everyone around you seems to be "over it" already.
How much height should a boy have to look attractive?
Well, fellas, worry no more, because a new study has revealed 5ft 8in is the ideal height for a man. Dating app Badoo has revealed the most right-swiped heights based on their users aged 18 to 30.
Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.