To deal with the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, the government has taken many unprecedented steps and calls for the containment of the population. Now travel is prohibited, with exceptions with an exit certificate. To deal with the multiple questions about the virus, Dr Jimmy Mohammed answers the questions of listeners from Europe 1 every day.
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Sophie's question
If the information is known and reliable, how long does the virus incubate? How long is a Covid-19 transmissible?
Jimmy Mohamed's response
The incubation period is the period between when you experience the virus and when you express symptoms. We realized that the majority of people will express the disease after five days. However, this period can be up to 14 days. In terms of virus transmission, you can be contagious during this incubation period.
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This means that you can feel good, be healthy but be at the end of the incubation. And 24 hours, or 48 hours before you have symptoms, you are already contagious. Reason why you have to stay at home. We are contagious at least 14 days. The attending physician will give you a two-week sick leave.
Some studies show that you could be contagious for up to twenty days. A slightly longer period which could justify longer containment measures than those announced on Monday by Emmanuel Macron.