How Long After Starting Z Pack For COVID 19 Are You Contagious?
 
                                    
                                    
                                          
                                               Posted on
                                          
                                            
                                         
                                           Sat, 18 Jul 2020
                                           
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                            Medically reviewed by
                                            
                                                  Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
                                            
                                        
                                        
                                            
                                                
                                                Sat, 18 Jul 2020
                                                
                                            
                                                Answered on
                                             
                                            
                                                
                                                Wed, 13 Aug 2025
                                                
                                                
                                                Last reviewed on
                                             
                                            Question : How long after starting z pack for COVID 19 are you Contagious
                            
                                    Brief Answer:
10 days from symptom onset and 3 days after fever and symptoms resolve
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. There is no clear evidence that a z pack affects how long COVID-19 is contagious for, so it would be the same time period as without the z pack. The current evidence suggests that people with COVID-19 are contagious until 10 days after the onset of symptoms, and 3 days after fever has resolved and symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath) are improving. Once both of those criteria are fulfilled, you would be considered to not be contagious.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
                                    
                            10 days from symptom onset and 3 days after fever and symptoms resolve
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. There is no clear evidence that a z pack affects how long COVID-19 is contagious for, so it would be the same time period as without the z pack. The current evidence suggests that people with COVID-19 are contagious until 10 days after the onset of symptoms, and 3 days after fever has resolved and symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath) are improving. Once both of those criteria are fulfilled, you would be considered to not be contagious.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
 Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
                              
                            
                                  
                                      Dr. Nagamani Ng
                                  
                              
                                         
 
                                    
                                    
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