Prolonged presence of replication‐competent SARS‐CoV‐2 in mildly symptomatic individuals: A report of two cases

Mendes Correa, Maria C.; Leal, Fabio E.; Villas Boas, Lucy S.; Witkin, Steven S.; de Paula, Anderson; Tozetto Mendonza, Tania R.; Ferreira, Noely E.; Curty, Gislaine; de Carvalho, Pedro S.; Buss, Lewis F.; Costa, Silvia F.; da Cunha Carvalho, Flavia M.; Kawakami, Joyce; Taniwaki, Noemi N.; Paiao, Heuder; da Silva Bizário, Joao C.; de Jesus, Jaqueline G.; Sabino, Ester C.; Romano, Camila M.; Grepan, Regina M. Z.; Sesso, Antonio

It has been estimated that individuals with COVID‐19 can shed replication‐competent virus up to a maximum of 20 days after initiation of symptoms. The majority of studies that addressed this situation involved hospitalized individuals and those with severe disease. Studies to address the possible presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 during the different phases of COVID‐19 disease in mildly infected individuals, and utilization of viral culture techniques to identify replication‐competent viruses, have been limited. This report describes two patients with mild forms of the disease who shed replication‐competent virus for 24 and 37 days, respectively, after symptom onset.