Novel Coronavirus Incubation Period Lasts up to 2 Weeks

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

The director of China's National Health Commission said on Sunday that the incubation period for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is roughly 10–14 days — and the virus can be transmitted during that time, before symptoms appear. A U.S. infectious diseases expert said this means "the infection is much more contagious than we originally thought," the New York Times reports.

In other coronavirus news, as of Sunday:

• The CDC confirmed three additional U.S. cases — two in California and one in Arizona — bringing the total to five. All have occurred in travelers from Wuhan. The agency noted that while it considers 2019-nCoV "a very serious public health threat ... the immediate health risk ... to the general American public is considered low at this time."

• China reported over 2700 confirmed cases, with 80 deaths, according to the Times.

• The coronavirus has reached Europe (3 cases in France) and Australia (also 3 cases). The list of locations with confirmed cases is evolving; go to the third link below for the latest update.

In the New England Journal of Medicine, a brief report details genomic analysis of 2019-nCoV, while experts offer their take on the outbreak in an editorial and a perspective. Follow the links below to take a look.