Skip to main content
Download PDF

Serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Infectious Diseases volume 21, Article number: 257 (2021) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Understanding the epidemiological parameters that determine the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 is essential for public health intervention. Globally, a number of studies were conducted to estimate the average serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19. Combining findings of existing studies that estimate the average serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19 significantly improves the quality of evidence. Hence, this study aimed to determine the overall average serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19.

Methods

We followed the PRISMA checklist to present this study. A comprehensive search strategy was carried out from international electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library) by two experienced reviewers (MAA and DBK) authors between the 1st of June and the 31st of July 2020. All observational studies either reporting the serial interval or incubation period in persons diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in this study. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the I2 and Higgins test. The NOS adapted for cross-sectional studies was used to evaluate the quality of studies. A random effect Meta-analysis was employed to determine the pooled estimate with 95% (CI). Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction and R software was used for analysis.

Results

We combined a total of 23 studies to estimate the overall mean serial interval of COVID-19. The mean serial interval of COVID-19 ranged from 4. 2 to 7.5 days. Our meta-analysis showed that the weighted pooled mean serial interval of COVID-19 was 5.2 (95%CI: 4.9–5.5) days. Additionally, to pool the mean incubation period of COVID-19, we included 14 articles. The mean incubation period of COVID-19 also ranged from 4.8 to 9 days. Accordingly, the weighted pooled mean incubation period of COVID-19 was 6.5 (95%CI: 5.9–7.1) days.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the weighted pooled mean serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19 were 5.2, and 6.5 days, respectively. In this study, the average serial interval of COVID-19 is shorter than the average incubation period, which suggests that substantial numbers of COVID-19 cases will be attributed to presymptomatic transmission.

Peer Review reports

Background

The 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) continues to be one of the potential clinical and public health issues in the global population [1]. Globally, from the outbreak of the virus up to August 5, 2020, 18 million total confirmed cases and 700, 000 deaths were reported [2]. Rapid spread of COVID-19 causes an enormous impact on social, economic and health care system in the world [3]. Effective treatment to block the spread of COVID-19 is not developed yet, hence countries implement non-treatment intervention such as social distancing, isolation, face mask and quarantine to reduce its rapid transmission [4, 5].

Existing evidence showed that most of the COVID-19 cases are missed by screening due to they are unaware they were exposed, and not developed symptoms yet [5]. In the absence of strong public health interventions, preliminary estimates showed that the basic reproduction number of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronovirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) ranged from 2.8 to 5.5 [6]. Serial interval and incubation period are the two main epidemiological parameters that determine the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases [7]. Serial interval is defined as the time from illness onset in the primary case to illness onset in the secondary case, while incubation period is the time from infection occurred to the onset of signs and symptoms.

Previous studies reported that the average serial interval of COVID-19 is shorter than the average incubation period, which suggests that a substantial proportion of presymptomatic transmission [8, 9]. This makes it difficult to trace contacts due to the rapid turnover of case generations. An observational study that aimed to provide the epidemiological parameters of COVID-19 using seven countries data revealed that the mean incubation period and serial interval were 7.44 days and 6.70 days, respectively [10]. A study that compares the incubation period of SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) reported that no observable difference in the incubation was noted between them [11].

Globally, a number of studies were conducted to estimate the average serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19. However, the reported estimate of serial interval and incubation period in these fragmented studies vary depending on the number of study participants recruited, the type of design employed, the data collection period, and the country in which the study conducted. Combined findings of existing studies significantly strengthen the quality of evidence investigating the average estimate of serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19. Thus, this meta-analysis was aimed to determine the overall pooled mean serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19 using available evidences. The findings of this study are intended to improve policies and strategies for better prevention and control of COVID-19.

Methods

Source of information

We identified relevant studies through searching electronic databases and gray literatures. Additionally, we were searched from the reference lists of all the included studies to identify any other studies that may have been missed by our search strategy.

Searching for studies

We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist for this study [12]. A comprehensive search strategy was performed from international electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library) by two experienced review (MAA and DBK) authors between 1st of June and the 31st of July 2020. The following searching terms are used from the above databases: “serial interval” OR “generation time” AND “incubation period” OR “infectious period” AND “COVID-19” OR “SARS-CoV-2” OR “novel coronavirus”.

Inclusion criteria

Design

All observational studies either reporting the serial interval or incubation period of COVID-19.

Study setting

Worldwide.

Population

All age group.

Publication status

All published and unpublished articles.

Language

Only studies reporting using the English language.

Publication date

Published from the 1st of January 2020 to the 30th of June, 2020.

Exclusion criteria

Articles that were not fully accessed after at least two email contacts of the principal investigator were excluded. In addition, we excluded case reports, letters, and review articles.

Study selection

The eligibility assessment was undertaken by two (WG and TYB) authors, independently. The disagreement between two reviewers were fixed by consensus.

Outcome measures and data extraction

This study has two outcome variables. The first is the average estimate of serial interval. The serial interval is defined as the time from illness onset in the primary case to illness onset in the secondary case. It also measured from pairs of cases with a clear infector–infectee relationship. The second outcome variable is the average estimate of the incubation period. Incubation period is defined as the time from infection occurred to the onset of signs and symptoms. It was measured with cases of a well-defined period of exposure and symptom onset. Screening of studies and all essential data from the included studies were extracted independently by two (MA and LY) of the authors. This form includes the last name of the first author, country, data collection period, sample size, average estimate, standard deviation, and 95% confidence intervals. The same data extraction form was used for both outcomes. Discrepancies between the two reviewers was resolved by consensus involving all authors.

Assessing the risk of bias

Two experienced reviewers (MA and DBK) were assessed the risk of bias of the included articles. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies was used to evaluate the quality of studies [13]. This tool includes three categories with a maximum score of 9 points. The first is the “selection” category, which accounts for a maximum of 4 points, the second is the “Comparability” category, which accounts for a maximum of 2 points, and the third is “outcome” which accounts a maximum of 3 points. Based on the composite score from this three categories, the studies were classified as good quality if the score ≥ 6 points, fair quality 2 to 5 points inclusively and poor quality ≤1 point.

Data processing and analysis

A meta-analysis of continuous outcomes was employed for this study. We analyzed the data sets for each outcome variable (serial interval and incubation period). After extracting all essential data using Microsoft Excel, data were exported to R 4.0.2 statistical software for meta-analysis. In order to pool the results of included studies in a consistent format, we estimated the sample mean and standard deviation for studies that report median and interquartile range [14]. To determine the extent of variation between the studies, we did a heterogeneity test using the Higgins method, that was quantified by I2 value [15]. Weighted average using the inverse variance method was used to estimate the pooled average. A random-effect meta-analysis with an estimation of DerSimonian and Laird method was performed. The publication bias was also assessed using a funnel plot and Egger’s tests [16]. The pooled average estimates with 95%CI confidence interval was presented using forest plots.

Results

Search results

Figure 1 indicates the overall flow of study selection, literature search and number of the included studies. During electronic literature search 14,247 articles were identified and 14, 140 duplicated articles were removed. After meticulous review of the whole articles, 28 studies that fulfill the suitability standards were included. From the included studies, a single study might report both outcomes (serial interval and incubation period). Accordingly, a total of 23 and 14 studies were combined to estimate the mean serial interval, and incubation period of COVID-19, respectively.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow chart diagram describing the selection of studies included in the meta-analysis of serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19, 2020

Full size image

Description of the included studies

All the included studies are cross-sectional, and half of them were preprints. Majority of studies included in this study are conducted in China. We included a total of 23 articles to pool the mean of serial interval of COVID-19. The minimum and maximum pairs of COVID-19 patients among the included studies were 6 [17] and 1407 [18], respectively. Among the included studies, the mean serial interval of COVID-19 was ranged from 4. 2 days [19] to 7.5 days [17] (Table 1).

Table 1 Descriptions of the included studies conducted on the average estimate of serial interval of COVID-19, 2020
Full size table

Similarly, to pool the mean incubation period of COVID-19, a total of 14 articles were included. Among those, the minimum sample size was 10 [17] and the maximum was 183 [20]. The mean incubation period of COVID-19 ranged from 4.8 days [20] to 9 days [19] (Table 2).

Table 2 Descriptions of the included studies conducted on the average incubation period of COVID-19, 2020
Full size table

Pooled average estimate of serial interval and incubation period

In this study, a total of 3924 pairs of COVID-19 patients were included to pool the mean serial interval. Accordingly, the weighted overall mean serial interval of COVID-19 was 5.2 (95%CI: 4.9–5.5) days (Fig. 2). Likewise, a total of 1, 453 COVID-19 patients were included to pool the overall incubation period of COVID-19. Consequently, the weighted pooled mean incubation period of COVID-19 was 6.5 (95%CI: 5.9–7.1) days (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Forest plot that shows the pooled mean serial interval of COVID-19 using available studies, 2020

Full size image
Fig. 3
figure 3

Forest plot that shows the pooled mean incubation period of COVID-19 using available studies, 2020

Full size image

Of the included studies to pool the mean serial interval of COVID-19, our summary quality assessment showed that nearly three-fourth (73.9%) of the studies had a good quality (Table S1). Similarly, among the included studies to pool the mean incubation period of COVID-19, about 71.4% of studies had a good quality (Table S2). We assessed the issue of publication bias by visual inspection of funnel plot and by using Egger’s regression test. Though the funnel plot looks asymmetrical the Egger’s test showed that no relationship between the effect size and its precision (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Funnel plots to check publication bias. a The included studies to pool the mean serial interval of COVID-19. b The included studies to pool the mean incubation period of COVID-19

Full size image

Discussion

The current study has two main objectives. The first objective is to determine the overall mean serial interval of COVID-19. In this study, we found that the weighted pooled mean serial interval of COVID-19 was 5.2 (95%CI: 4.9–5.5) days. This result is consistent with a study conducted in China [21], which reported that the mean serial interval of 5. 35 (95%CI: 4:63; 6:07) days. Another systematic review and meta-analysis study that combines 11 studies reported that the mean serial interval of 5.19 (95%CI: 4.37, 6.02) [22]. A study that compares the epidemiology of COVID-19, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV showed that COVID-19 had a short serial interval than SARS and MERS [23]. In addition, the pooled mean serial interval of COVID-19 obtained in this study is shorter than the mean serial interval of MERS and SARS reported in South Korea, and Singapore [24, 25].

The second objective of this study was to determine the overall mean incubation period of COVID-19. Consequently, the weighted pooled mean incubation period of COVID-19 was found 6.5 (95%CI: 5.9–7.1) days. This result is consistent with a study conducted in Hong Kong [26]. A result obtained from a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis showed that median incubation period of COVID-19 is 5.1 (95% CI: 4.5–5.8) days. Furthermore, the average incubation period of COVID-19 obtained in this study is longer than the average incubation period of SARS that reported in Toronto, Hong Kong, and Beijing [24, 27]. In addition, the average incubation period of COVID-19 obtained in the current study is longer than a systematic review study that reported the average incubation period of SARS [28].

Moreover, the average incubation period of COVID-19 obtained in the current study is longer than the mean incubation period of MERS reported in Hong Kong, and the Middle East [29, 30]. The possible explanation for this result might be the associations between shorter incubation periods and greater severity of infectious disease [31]. A longer incubation period was associated with a reduction in the risk of death [32]. The estimated fatality rate of COVID-19, SARS, and MERS are 2.3, 9.5, and 34.4%, respectively [33,34,35]. Conversely, another study showed that there is no observable difference between the incubation periods for SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and MERS-CoV. This study reported that the estimated incubation periods for SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV were 4.9, 4.7, and 5.8 days, respectively [11].

In the current study, we included more studies by making longer searching date than the previous published articles. As the number of studies in meta-analysis increases, the power of estimating the pooled serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19 will be improved.

Limitations

The current study has a number of limitations. Firstly, the overall estimate of serial interval and incubation period were computed with in a considerable heterogeneity. The source of heterogeneity might be difference in study population, data collection period, and method of analysis. Secondly, the majority of the included studies had relatively small study participants which may decrease the power of the study. Thirdly, the review was limited to only articles published in the English language. Lastly, since the included articles are limited to few countries, it may not represent the global figure.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the weighted pooled mean serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19 were 5.2, and 6.5 days, respectively. The average serial interval of COVID-19 is shorter than the average incubation period, which suggests that substantial numbers of COVID-19 cases will be attributed to presymptomatic or asymptomatic transmission.

Availability of data and materials

All the materials and data on which the findings of this review based are presented within the manuscript.

Abbreviations

MERS-CoV:

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

COVID-19:

novel coronavirus disease 2019

SARS-CoV-2:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

References

  1. WHO. Media briefing on COVID-19 - 2020. Accessed from https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020.

    Google Scholar 

  2. JHONS HOPKINS coronavirus resource center. COVID-19. Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). COVID, Coronavirus research center.

  3. The world bank. The global economic outlook during the covid-19 pandemic: a changed world; 2020. Accessed from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/06/08/the-global-economic-outlook-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-a-changed-world.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Sanders JM, Monogue ML, Jodlowski TZ, Cutrell JB. Pharmacologic treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a review. JAMA. 2020;323(18):1824–36.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gostic K, Gomez AC, Mummah RO, Kucharski AJ, Lloyd-Smith JO. Estimated effectiveness of symptom and risk screening to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Elife. 2020;9:e55570.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Read JM, Bridgen JR, Cummings DA, Ho A, Jewell CP. Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV: early estimation of epidemiological parameters and epidemic predictions. MedRxiv. 2020.

  7. Chan YW, Flasche S, Lam TL, Leung MH, Wong ML, Lam HY, et al. Transmission dynamics, serial interval and epidemiology of COVID-19 diseases in Hong Kong under different control measures. Wellcome Open Res. 2020;5:91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Nishiura H, Linton NM, Akhmetzhanov AR. Serial interval of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. Int J Infect Dis. 2020;93:284–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Viego V, Geri M, Castiglia J, Jouglard E. Incubation period and serial interval of Covid-19 in a chain of infections in Bahia Blanca (Argentina). Ciência Saúde Coletiva. 2020;25(9):3503–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ma S, Zhang J, Zeng M, Yun Q, Guo W, Zheng Y, et al. Epidemiological parameters of coronavirus disease 2019: a pooled analysis of publicly reported individual data of 1155 cases from seven countries. Medrxiv. 2020.

  11. Jiang X, Rayner S, Luo MH. Does SARS-CoV-2 has a longer incubation period than SARS and MERS? J Med Virol. 2020;92(5):476–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6(7):e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed1000097.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale customized for cross-sectional studies In. available from https://static-content.springer.com/esm/.../12889_2012_5111_MOESM3_ESM.doc. Accessed 24 July 2020.

  14. Wan X, Wang W, Liu J, Tong T. Estimating the sample mean and standard deviation from the sample size, median, range and/or interquartile range. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2014;14(1):135.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Melsen WG, Bootsma MC, Rovers MM, Bonten MJ. The effects of clinical and statistical heterogeneity on the predictive values of results from meta-analyses. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014;20(2):123–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Van Enst WA, Ochodo E, Scholten RJ, Hooft L, Leeflang MM. Investigation of publication bias in meta-analyses of diagnostic test accuracy: a meta-epidemiological study. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2014;14(1):70.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L, Tong Y, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2001316.

  18. Xu XK, Liu XF, Wu Y, Ali ST, Du Z, Bosetti P, et al. Reconstruction of transmission pairs for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in mainland China: estimation of super-spreading events, serial interval, and hazard of infection. Clin Infect Dis. 2020.

  19. Tindale L, Coombe M, Stockdale JE, Garlock E, Lau WY, Saraswat M, et al. Transmission interval estimates suggest pre-symptomatic spread of COVID-19. MedRxiv. 2020.

  20. Bi Q, Wu Y, Mei S, Ye C, Zou X, Zhang Z, et al. Epidemiology and transmission of COVID-19 in 391 cases and 1286 of their close contacts in Shenzhen, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;20(8):911–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang P, Wang T, Xie SX. Meta-analysis of several epidemic characteristics of COVID-19. J Data Sci. 2020;18(3):536.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Rai B, Shukla A, Dwivedi LK. Estimates of serial interval for COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Epidemiol Global Health. 2020.

  23. Xie M, Chen Q. Insight into 2019 novel coronavirus—an updated intrim review and lessons from SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Int J Infect Dis. 2020;94:119–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Cowling BJ, Park M, Fang VJ, Wu P, Leung GM, Wu JT. Preliminary epidemiological assessment of MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea, may to June 2015. Eurosurveillance. 2015;20(25):21163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lipsitch M, Cohen T, Cooper B, Robins JM, Ma S, James L, et al. Transmission dynamics and control of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Science. 2003;300(5627):1966–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Donnelly CA, Ghani AC, Leung GM, Hedley AJ, Fraser C, Riley S, et al. Epidemiological determinants of spread of causal agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong. Lancet. 2003;361(9371):176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lau EH, Hsiung CA, Cowling BJ, Chen CH, Ho LM, Tsang T, et al. A comparative epidemiologic analysis of SARS in Hong Kong, Beijing and Taiwan. BMC Infect Dis. 2010;10(1):1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Lessler J, Reich NG, Brookmeyer R, Perl TM, Nelson KE, Cummings DA. Incubation periods of acute respiratory viral infections: a systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2009;9(5):291–300.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Park JE, Jung S, Kim A. MERS transmission and risk factors: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):574.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Cauchemez S, Fraser C, Van Kerkhove MD, Donnelly CA, Riley S, Rambaut A, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: quantification of the extent of the epidemic, surveillance biases, and transmissibility. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014;14(1):50–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Virlogeux V, Fang VJ, Wu JT, Ho LM, Peiris JM, Leung GM, et al. Incubation period duration and severity of clinical disease following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection. Epidemiology. 2015;26(5):666.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Virlogeux V, Park M, Wu JT, Cowling BJ. Association between severity of MERS-CoV infection and incubation period. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22(3):526.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Petrosillo N, Viceconte G, Ergonul O, Ippolito G, Petersen E. COVID-19, SARS and MERS: are they closely related? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020;26:729–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Pormohammad A, Ghorbani S, Khatami A, Farzi R, Baradaran B, Turner DL, et al. Comparison of confirmed COVID-19 with SARS and MERS cases-clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, radiographic signs and outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol. 2020;30(4):e2112.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Lu L, Zhong W, Bian Z, Li Z, Zhang K, Liang B, et al. A comparison of mortality-related risk factors of COVID-19, SARS, and MERS: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Infect. 2020.

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank primary authors.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia

    Muluneh Alene, Leltework Yismaw, Moges Agazhe Assemie, Daniel Bekele Ketema & Wodaje Gietaneh

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

    Tilahun Yemanu Birhan

Authors
  1. Muluneh Alene
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leltework Yismaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Moges Agazhe Assemie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Daniel Bekele Ketema
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wodaje Gietaneh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tilahun Yemanu Birhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MA, LY, and MAA: conceived the design; DBK and WG develop the search strategy; MA, LY, MAA and TYB: searched, screened, and appraised the studies, and extract the data: MA analyze the data; MAA, LY, MAA and TYB: drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tilahun Yemanu Birhan.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

All authors declared that there is no competing interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Additional file 1: Table S1.

Assessing the risk of bias for the included studies to estimate the pooled avarage of serial interval of COVID-19, 2020.

Additional file 2: Table S2.

Assessing the risk of bias for the included studies to estimate the pooled avarage incubation period of COVID-19, 2020.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alene, M., Yismaw, L., Assemie, M.A. et al. Serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 21, 257 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-05950-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-05950-x

Keywords

BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

Contact us