Incubation period as part of the case definition of severe respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus.
Non specific symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections make it difficult for many countries without ongoing transmission of a novel coronavirus to rule out other possibilities including influenza before isolating imported febrile individuals with a possible exposure history. The incubation period helps differential diagnosis, and up to two days is suggestive of influenza. It is worth including the incubation period in the case definition of novel coronavirus infection.
Euro surveillance bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles European communicable disease bulletin