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. 2022 Jul;10(7):e664.
doi: 10.1002/iid3.664.

The latent period of coronavirus disease 2019 with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant of concern in the postvaccination era

Tao Ma  1 , Songning Ding  1 , Rui Huang  2 , Hengxue Wang  1 , Junjun Wang  1 , Jiacheng Liu  3 , Jian Wang  2 , Jie Li  2 , Chao Wu  2 , Huafeng Fan  4 , Nan Zhou  1
Affiliations

The latent period of coronavirus disease 2019 with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant of concern in the postvaccination era

Tao Ma et al. Immun Inflamm Dis. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Emerging variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have resulted in new challenges for epidemic prevention and control worldwide. However, little is known about the latent period of coronavirus disease by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (VOC) in the postvaccination era.

Methods: The epidemiology and clinical data of cases with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Delta VOC infection were retrospective collected. Dates of the first positive PCR test were collected to estimate the distribution of latent period.

Results: Of the 40 patients, 16 were male (40%). The median age of patients was 47.5 years. The median latent period of patients was 6.0 days (interquartile range [IQR], 4.0-9.0 days) and the longest latent period was 13.0 days after exposure. The latent periods were longer in male patients compared to female patients (median, 8.5 days vs. 5.0 days, p = .041). The median latent period was comparable among fully vaccinated cases (6.5 days), no vaccinated cases (7.5 days), and partially vaccinated cases (5.5 days).

Conclusions: The median latent period of SARS-CoV-2 Delta VOC infection was 6.0 days. The latent period between vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients was not significantly different. The 14-day quarantine program is sufficient to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by Delta VOC in the postvaccination era.

Keywords: latent period; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; vaccine; variant of concern.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Latent period of coronavirus disease 2019 with SARS‐CoV‐2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant of concern. SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta VOC exposure and case detection times (A) and latent period distribution (B).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparisons of the latent period distribution in COVID‐19 patients with different gender (A,B), age (C), and vaccination status (D)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Supplementary concepts