For how long is SARS-CoV-2 detected in oral and respiratory secretions from COVID-19 patients?
Data from 96 COVID-19 patients in China show SARS-CoV-2 detection in respiratory samples for a median of 18 days (13-29 days). In this study, sputum and saliva were not analyzed separately. Viral shedding was significantly longer in patients with severe disease, with a median of 21 days (14-30 days), compared to mild disease, 14 days (10-21 days). Furthermore, glucocorticoids treatment longer than 10 days significantly extended the duration of SARS-CoV-2 shedding.27 Viral load differed significantly by sample type, with respiratory samples showing the highest, followed by stool samples, and serum samples showing the lowest.27 Viral load range from 1.34 × 1011 copies per mL to 7.52 × 105 in sputum of patients who died or survived, respectively.28