The symptoms of COVID-19 typically appear within 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, with the average incubation period being about 5 days. Most people (about 97.5%) who develop symptoms show them within 11.5 days after exposure. The exact time can vary depending on individual factors and virus variants, but the general guideline is up to two weeks for symptoms to show after infection.

Overview of COVID-19 Symptom Onset

• Median incubation period: About 5 days.
• Range: Usually 2 to 14 days, with some variation.
• Most common early symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness.
• Some symptoms (like runny nose or chest pain) may appear later within the incubation period.

Implications for Quarantine and Monitoring

• Due to the incubation window, a 14-day quarantine is recommended after exposure.
• Symptoms appearing beyond 14 days are rare but possible.
• Symptoms and incubation periods may vary with virus variants, with some variants causing faster symptom onset.

This information aligns with health authorities' advice and research studies on COVID-19 symptom progression.