How long does a COVID-19 illness last? Your virus questions answered, plus the latest news

October 14, 2020

Associated Press, CNN

How long can I expect a COVID-19 illness to last?

It depends. Most coronavirus patients have mild to moderate illness and recover quickly. Older, sicker patients tend to take longer to recover. That includes those who are obese, or have high blood pressure and other chronic diseases.

The World Health Organization says recovery typically takes two to six weeks. One U.S. study found that around 20% of non-hospitalized individuals ages 18 to 34 still had symptoms at least two weeks after becoming ill. The same was true for nearly half of people age 50 and older.

Among those sick enough to be hospitalized, a study in Italy found 87% were still experiencing symptoms two months after getting sick. Lingering symptoms included fatigue and shortness of breath.

Here’s an update on all developments. Scroll or swipe further for in-depth coverage.

Stock markets are subdued as the number of coronavirus cases continues to grow in several major economies, leading to new restrictions on businesses.
The World Bank has approved $12 billion in financing to help developing countries buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines, tests, and treatments.
Scientists say a comparison of 21 developed countries during the start of the coronavirus pandemic shows those with early lockdowns and well-prepared national health systems avoided large numbers of additional deaths.
An estimated 600 residents of the U.S. territory of American Samoa were away when the governor closed its borders in March to keep the cluster of Pacific islands free from the coronavirus. Most have not been allowed to return.
Belgium’s intensive care units will hit capacity by mid-November if the number of new coronavirus cases continue to soar at the same pace, according to the country’s health authorities. In Northern Ireland, officials introduced the tightest COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, closing schools, pubs and restaurants in a effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Burial teams in Cameroon have been repeatedly confronted by bereaved family members who want to adhere to traditional burial rites despite concerns that such practices further spread coronavirus.
The NFL has no plans to move into a bubble as it takes several new steps to combat the spread of the coronavirus, but will begin PCR testing for COVID-19 on game days starting this week and has mandated the use of masks in walkthroughs.
Walmart is spreading out its traditional one-day Black Friday deals over three weekends in November in an effort to reduce crowds in its stores during a pandemic.

For more summaries and full reports, select from the articles below. Scroll further for the latest virus numbers.