What defines the COVID-19 incubation period between exposure and symptom onset?
Answer
Time elapsed between exposure to the virus and the first appearance of symptoms
The incubation period is fundamentally defined as the interval separating the moment an individual is infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the moment they first observe any physical manifestations of the illness. This period is critical because it represents a time of silent infection during which the individual may unknowingly transmit the virus before recognizing they are ill, which complicates containment strategies. It is distinct from the symptomatic period, where active illness is present, and the infectious period, which starts even before incubation officially ends.
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