What is the median incubation period for COVID-19 often cited as?
Answer
Around five days
The incubation period, defined as the time from exposure to symptom onset, generally falls within a specific timeframe, although variability exists. While the shortest reported incubation times can be as brief as two days, and the upper statistical limit for 97.5% of cases is 11.5 days, the central tendency of this window is typically captured by the average or median. Data sources frequently cite the average time from exposure to symptom onset as approximately five days, meaning the median point, where half of those who will develop symptoms have already done so, is commonly referenced as being around five days.
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