Abstract:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the pathogen of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, has evolved and mutated continuously, producing variants with different enhanced transmission and virulence, such as Alpha (B.1.1.7) , Beta (B.1.351) , Gamma (P.1) , Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) . An intensive study of the incubation period of COVID-19 caused by different SARS-CoV-2 variants will contribute to tracing the origin of COVID-19, determining the detention, quarantine and isolation time of close contacts, and timely improving measures for containing COVID-19. We reviewed the major studies on the incubation period of COVID-19 caused by wild-type strains and different variants of SARS-CoV-2, which estimated that the incubation period of COVID-19 caused by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strains was 4-8 (median 5.5) days. And that for COVID-19 caused by Beta or Gamma variant was generally similar to that by wild-type strains, about 5 days. The incubation period of COVID-19 caused by Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants was shorter than that of other strains, which was 4, 4 and 3 days, respectively.

Key words: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Variants, Infectious disease incubation period, Epidemiology, Review

摘要：

从新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）疫情初始至今，COVID-19的病原体新型冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2）不断进化和变异，产生传播力和毒力变化的变异株，如Alpha（B.1.1.7）、Beta（B.1.351）、Gamma（P.1）、Delta（B.1.617.2）以及Omicron（B.1.1.529）变异株。深入研究不同变异株感染所致的COVID-19潜伏期有助于追溯传染源，确定密切接触者的留验、检疫和医学观察期限，为及时调整COVID-19疫情防控措施提供依据。本文主要综述了国内外感染SARS-CoV-2野生株和不同变异株的COVID-19潜伏期的相关研究，研究发现，感染SARS-CoV-2野生株的潜伏期在4~8 d，中位潜伏期约为5.5 d。感染Beta、Gamma变异株的潜伏期与野生株基本类似，约为5 d。感染Alpha、Delta和Omicron变异株的潜伏期则低于其他毒株，分别为4 d、4 d和3 d。

关键词: 新型冠状病毒肺炎, 新型冠状病毒, 变异株, 传染病潜伏期, 流行病学, 综述