With coronavirus cases around the world continuing to increase, fears about the spread of the virus are now widespread.
Now, a new study has found that half of coronavirus patients still have the disease for up to eight days after their symptoms disappear.
In the study, researchers from Yale University studied 16 coronavirus patients who were treated and released from PLA General Hospital in Beijing.
The researchers collected and analysed throat swab samples from the patients on alternate days.
Dr Lokesh Sharma, co-lead author of the study, explained: “The most significant finding from our study is that half of the patients kept shedding the virus even after resolution of their symptoms.
"More severe infections may have even longer shedding times.”
The patients in the study all presented with mild symptoms, including fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
On average, it took five days for their symptoms to appear, while the average duration of symptoms was eight days.
While the researchers emphasise that this was a small study, they hope the findings will encourage people to extend their quarantine time.
Professor Lixin Xie, corresponding author of the study, said: “If you had mild respiratory symptoms from COVID-19 and were staying at home so as not to infect people, extend your quarantine for another two weeks after recovery to ensure that you don't infect other people.”
