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