Charting a Coronavirus Infection

 

By Katherine J. Wu and Jonathan Corum 

After months of downplaying the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, President Trump announced early Friday morning that he and the first lady, Melania Trump, had tested positive for the coronavirus. He has been hospitalized at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and has experienced mild to moderate symptoms, including a fever, cough and congestion. He also reportedly had low blood oxygen levels at least twice on Friday and Saturday.

It’s too soon to tell whether his illness will follow a typical course, or how severe his symptoms may become. And with millions of people sickened worldwide, no single timeline can encompass the range of Covid cases. But months of data have helped scientists home in on the general portrait of a symptomatic coronavirus case.

Exposure and Incubation

The time between initial exposure to the virus and the appearance of symptoms is known as the incubation period. This period is typically four to five days, although it can last up to 14 days, or perhaps even longer in rare cases.
It remains unclear who infected Mr. Trump, although there are many potential candidates, several of whom gathered with the president during White House event for Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Sept. 26 or have traveled with him to crowded campaign rallies.

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https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/02/science/charting-a-coronavirus-infection.html?smid=tw-nytimesscience&smtyp=cur