A definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 infection cannot be made by observation of signs and symptoms alone. Symptoms may begin one to fourteen days after exposure to the virus. However, about a third of individuals who are infected do not develop noticeable symptoms. Of those individuals who develop noticeable symptoms, about 81% will develop mild to modest symptoms, while 14% will develop severe symptoms. Moreover, most COVID-19 illnesses are typically mild, and most patients, especially children and young adults, tend to recover spontaneously if given supportive care. Currently, a definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is made using molecular tests that detect the COVID-19 virus's genetic material.
