The respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the CDC.
Most people infected with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 have mild to moderate cold and flu-like symptoms, including a new fever, cough, shortness of breath or recent loss of taste or smell. For a complete and updated list, visit the
CDC’s COVID-19 symptoms page.
Some people, often those with other medical complications, may develop more severe respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia.
Not everyone experiences symptoms, though. Some people could be asymptomatic. This means they are infected with the novel coronavirus, but they feel fine and have no symptoms, so they may never know they are infected. Nonetheless, these asymptomatic patients can shed and spread the virus and infect others.