All You Need to Know About Asymptomatic COVID-19 Transmission

Ever since the first couple of coronavirus cases emerged in December 2019, last December, healthcare experts and scientists have been neck-deep in research in an attempt to understand the virus better. 

For the first few months, it was believed that the only source of transmission of this highly contagious disease was from person to person. Direct contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge were suspected of having the disease. 

However, we have since learned that these symptoms aren’t necessarily present among infected individuals. In fact, hundreds of individuals have tested positive without exhibiting any of these symptoms, bringing under focus the concept of asymptomatic transmission.

What Is Asymptomatic Transmission?

Asymptomatic is a term used to describe a person who has the disease but hasn’t developed any symptoms. They may feel perfectly healthy, showing no unusual changes in their health, all the while being infected. It’s different from being pre-symptomatic, which is when one doesn’t have any symptoms initially but later develops.

How Many People Are Asymptomatic?

Honestly, there’s no way of knowing this. Previousstudies have given us an unclear range of between 18% and 80%, but this may not apply to the current situation. The only way to know if someone is asymptomatic and then devise a statistic is by testing people even if they don’t exhibit any symptoms (aka mass testing). 

How Can Asymptomatic Transmission Be Limited?

Just because a person is asymptomatic doesn’t mean they’re any less of a threat when it comes to transmitting the disease. Consequently, you need to adhere strictly to the preventative measures laid out by the WHO.

First and foremost, wear a face mask when surrounded by other people to prevent transmission. This should be done even when you’re stepping out in the street or going for a walk in the nearest park.

Secondly, maintain a distance of at least six feet when out in public. Stick to the local social distancing laws and avoid being in gatherings unnecessarily. 

Finally, take good care of your hygiene, diet, and lifestyle. You never know if the last person you saw—even from a distance—was infected or not. Similarly, you may not know that you’ve been infected when interacting with someone else. Follow the preventative measures to avoid any risks.

If you have any specific concerns regarding COVID-19, book a consultation with a healthcare professional via CallingDr™. 

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