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Jose Garcia

(2,552 posts)
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:26 PM Jun 2020

Asymptomatic spread of coronavirus is 'very rare,' WHO says

Source: CNBC

Coronavirus patients without symptoms aren't driving the spread of the virus, World Health Organization officials said Monday, casting doubt on concerns by some researchers that the disease could be difficult to contain due to asymptomatic infections.

Some people, particularly young and otherwise healthy individuals, who are infected by the coronavirus never develop symptoms or only develop mild symptoms. Others might not develop symptoms until days after they were actually infected.

Preliminary evidence from the earliest outbreaks indicated that the virus could spread from person-to-person contact, even if the carrier didn't have symptoms. But WHO officials now say that while asymptomatic spread can occur, it is not the main way it's being transmitted.

"From the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said at a news briefing from the United Nations agency's Geneva headquarters. "It's very rare."

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/06/08/asymptomatic-coronavirus-patients-arent-spreading-new-infections-who-says.html

72 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Asymptomatic spread of coronavirus is 'very rare,' WHO says (Original Post) Jose Garcia Jun 2020 OP
That's encouraging news. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #1
Good to hear. I hope its true. milestogo Jun 2020 #2
going with the above. very good news -- if true. (nt) stopdiggin Jun 2020 #3
I really don't see how it could be true. LisaL Jun 2020 #6
It could be simply due to the fact Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #8
Did you even look at my link? LisaL Jun 2020 #9
Yes, I did. Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #11
How would someone know if they are asymptomatic or presymptomatic? LisaL Jun 2020 #35
That's the problem. Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #38
there has been studies where Asymptomatic have the capability of spreading, shedding virus yaesu Jun 2020 #15
Some / common, some / none Igel Jun 2020 #20
good points, I thinks as we know more about it, hard facts, they can keep it under control yaesu Jun 2020 #26
If you have millions of infections (which we do), how many is "rare"? LisaL Jun 2020 #44
Same here, but I can guess. ananda Jun 2020 #40
I'm not ready to buy a ticket...so to speak.. FarPoint Jun 2020 #13
It's not true. She walked it back. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #66
That study seems more speculation DeminPennswoods Jun 2020 #69
So, the many well-documented "super spreader" events were just a figment of someone's imagination? PSPS Jun 2020 #4
Or symptomatic people spread the virus at these events Jose Garcia Jun 2020 #5
I really don't know where WHO got this idea. LisaL Jun 2020 #7
it DOES seem to be contradictory stopdiggin Jun 2020 #10
That's how they define it Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #12
Precisely. Igel Jun 2020 #21
True. I had a relative staying with me in February Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #23
As I read the article, both are rare Steelrolled Jun 2020 #28
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. LisaL Jun 2020 #37
my guess is it's probably true but they need tobe very careful putting this out there LymphocyteLover Jun 2020 #50
When Covid infected people are running around without symptoms, LisaL Jun 2020 #34
The same is true for DeminPennswoods Jun 2020 #70
Which superspreader events had asymptomatic people spreading the virus? greenjar_01 Jun 2020 #19
The first I read about was out of China, very early on. JudyM Jun 2020 #39
And Biogen in Boston. That was a big one. Native Jun 2020 #52
Oh, right. JudyM Jun 2020 #53
I think they only got so far as tying it to 3 people - two from Europe. Native Jun 2020 #67
Just in time for the RNC convention! Dream Girl Jun 2020 #27
more guess and by gosh? no one truly has a grasp on what is going on. nt yaesu Jun 2020 #14
Not buying it. silverweb Jun 2020 #16
I Always Thought RobinA Jun 2020 #46
We're still figuring this one out. silverweb Jun 2020 #54
Somehow it managed to spread globally very quickly IronLionZion Jun 2020 #17
Also a lot of people in this world Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #24
AKA Human sacrifices IronLionZion Jun 2020 #30
Seems like it spread more indoors than outdoors very quickly. Initech Jun 2020 #45
Good greenjar_01 Jun 2020 #18
If true, that's very good news. yardwork Jun 2020 #22
Puzzling - the whole purpose to wearing a mask if that if you have it and don't know it PaulRevere08 Jun 2020 #25
See post #20 for a good explanation. n/t Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #31
Thanks! PaulRevere08 Jun 2020 #33
Cool story CNBC GeorgeGist Jun 2020 #29
Yes, lots of terms are being used. Steelrolled Jun 2020 #32
I honestly don't know what is going on with WHO. LisaL Jun 2020 #36
It's a very complex virus Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #41
Until they learn, maybe they shouldn't make contradictory announcements? LisaL Jun 2020 #42
I don't understand. Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #43
I think it is a trade off Steelrolled Jun 2020 #47
They Can Make RobinA Jun 2020 #48
BS. I hate weasel words like "rare." Give me a fucking number. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #49
"Some people...who are infected...never develop symptoms rocktivity Jun 2020 #51
It seems hard to believe Demonmogirl Jun 2020 #55
Singing emits just as much as coughing. That's why churches are superspreaders. nt SunSeeker Jun 2020 #56
Research has demonstrated that live virus remains in the air for around 15 minutes after normal JudyM Jun 2020 #57
Ehhhh....... Bayard Jun 2020 #58
You would think that Trump wouldn't have a lot of influence over WHO Steelrolled Jun 2020 #61
She misspoke. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #65
thread is a good demonstration of the ratio of DUers Kali Jun 2020 #59
And the ratio who are easily swayed by a headline. nt SunSeeker Jun 2020 #64
Every human that I come into contact with I consider a carrier until proven otherwise. littlemissmartypants Jun 2020 #60
WHO walks back comments on asymptomatic coronavirus spread EleanorR Jun 2020 #62
Yup, I knew it, she misspoke. All the anti-mask MAGAts must be having a sad. SunSeeker Jun 2020 #63
DING DING DING! Rocktivity, you're our grand prize winner! rocktivity Jun 2020 #68
Iceland's experience with Covid19 DeminPennswoods Jun 2020 #71
They're not telling the whole story here FakeNoose Jun 2020 #72

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
6. I really don't see how it could be true.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:44 PM
Jun 2020

It seems to contradict everything I have read before about covid. In fact it might be most contagious a couple of days before symptoms appear.

People with coronavirus infections may be most contagious one to two days before they start to feel ill, new research suggests.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-infection-contagious-days-before-symptoms-appear

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
8. It could be simply due to the fact
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:50 PM
Jun 2020

that asymptomatic people aren't walking around coughing and sneezing.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
9. Did you even look at my link?
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:51 PM
Jun 2020

It describes several studies. Infectious virus is produced before symptoms begin.

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
11. Yes, I did.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:55 PM
Jun 2020

It depends on the definition of asymptomatic. Does it mean not showing symptoms yet, or someone who will not show any symptoms during the entire course of the infection?

The second to last paragraph in your link defines it as never developing them. That would mean that person is not likely to be coughing and sneezing, therefore less likely to spread the virus.

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
15. there has been studies where Asymptomatic have the capability of spreading, shedding virus
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:06 PM
Jun 2020

Last edited Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:41 PM - Edit history (1)

I would like to know the real reason WHO has backtracked.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
20. Some / common, some / none
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:28 PM
Jun 2020

The claim isn't that asymptomatics don't spread the virus. The claim is that it's not the primary or particularly common way.

That leaves "sometimes".

The second claim is that asymptomatics can spread the virus. That doesn't say it's the primary way. In fact, since it's often spread by sneezing and coughing, if you don't sneeze and cough that leaves speaking. Speaking can spread it because it forms droplets of varying sizes--every sibilant, affricate, even dental and palatal release bursts do so, and the more forceful the greater the production. Speaking tends to take what's on the articulators, the tongue or the inside of the mouth, and spit it out. If you're sympomatic, it means you're coughing and bringing up serious virus loads from the airways that get expelled by speech. Or you clear your throat to clear out mucus from the sinuses. Now, if you're not symptomatic, all that there is in your mouth is simple saliva, with a smaller load.

So if you're asymptomatic then you don't cough, sneeze, and your speech is even less infectious. That means it's not likely that most cases are produced by asymptomatics. That leaves "sometimes" as the right frequency.

I don't see backtrack; I see clarification. They've take "sometimes" from meaning "fairly frequently, but not mostly" down to "less frequently, but not zero."

Meanwhile, https://www.biospace.com/article/protein-associated-with-covid-19-may-be-less-common-in-children/ has come to my attention (thanks NPR), meaning that my assumption that all ages were equally at risk for contracting the disease upon exposure but differed in presentation of symptoms was skewed. (It does help explain why school closures keep showing little to negative effect on reduction of transmission rates.)

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
26. good points, I thinks as we know more about it, hard facts, they can keep it under control
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:47 PM
Jun 2020

without drastic measures like closing schools, businesses. It was the smart thing to do due at the time do to the lack of knowledge. We had zero Federal help also which added to the unknown.

FarPoint

(12,209 posts)
13. I'm not ready to buy a ticket...so to speak..
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:01 PM
Jun 2020

I'll continue with assuming everyone has COVID 19 and protect myself and others... it's no big deal to me.

PSPS

(13,512 posts)
4. So, the many well-documented "super spreader" events were just a figment of someone's imagination?
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:39 PM
Jun 2020

One has to wonder if the WHO is knuckling under to one of trump's "do me a fovor, though" tricks when he pulled the US out.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
7. I really don't know where WHO got this idea.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:45 PM
Jun 2020

I contradicts everything I have seen reported. The study below was published in Nature Medicine. A very prestigious journal. The study suggests just the opposite, people are at their most infectious before symptoms appear.

"People with coronavirus infections may be most contagious one to two days before they start to feel ill, new research suggests."
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-infection-contagious-days-before-symptoms-appear

stopdiggin

(11,092 posts)
10. it DOES seem to be contradictory
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 03:53 PM
Jun 2020

both things obviously cannot be true ...

(They are perhaps referring to people who never develop symptoms? Frustrating to say the least.)

Igel

(35,191 posts)
21. Precisely.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:30 PM
Jun 2020

Asymptomatic is not the same as pre-symptomatic.

(I'd argue that the categories are more prototypes than easily implemented--if you have very, very, very mild symptoms you could be symptomatic but overlook the symptoms, or if you also have hay fever your symptoms can be masked entirely.)

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
23. True. I had a relative staying with me in February
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:38 PM
Jun 2020

who had a sinus infection and had a severe cough. She was one of the first in our county to be tested for the virus, and tested negative. Back then it took 8 days to get the results. That was a scary week at our house for sure.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
28. As I read the article, both are rare
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:52 PM
Jun 2020

Key words highlighted below.

To be sure, asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of the virus appears to still be happening, Van Kerkhove said but remains rare. That finding has important implications for how to screen for the virus and limit its spread.


I'm puzzled by this as well but it sounds fantastic. I would think WHO would be very cautious about saying something like this if they were not sure, given the criticism they have received over past announcements.

Of course there are still people who have symptoms but still go out into public (several reports to this effect regarding the recent demos).

Edit to add link to press conference: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1BdGYnjWodAJX

Listening this to carefully it appears she includes presymptomatic as part of asymptomatic. It starts around 31:45.

LymphocyteLover

(5,601 posts)
50. my guess is it's probably true but they need tobe very careful putting this out there
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 07:35 PM
Jun 2020

it's so easily misinterpreted and will cause people to lower their guard

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
34. When Covid infected people are running around without symptoms,
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 05:30 PM
Jun 2020

potentially infecting others, how would anyone know if they are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic? What point does WHO want to make here?

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
70. The same is true for
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 06:45 AM
Jun 2020

the common cold and flu, too. Both can be spread before whoever is infected knows they are sick.

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
39. The first I read about was out of China, very early on.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 05:44 PM
Jun 2020

A guy sitting in the back of a bus that had a closed circuit camera that later verified that he never once sneezed, coughed or spoke with any of the other passengers, had no symptoms, yet got quite a few passengers sick, including some on the bus’s next run when he was long gone.

Then there was that chorus case, I don’t recall that person being sick, either.

How did so many get sick so quickly in NY even after the virus was common knowledge? That many symptomatic people continued circulating in the public sphere? Doubtful.

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
53. Oh, right.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 09:24 PM
Jun 2020

Do you remember if they ended up tracing that to anyone? Not finding the answer, myself, in a few searches.

Native

(5,935 posts)
67. I think they only got so far as tying it to 3 people - two from Europe.
Wed Jun 10, 2020, 04:08 PM
Jun 2020

At least they were the first 3 to test positive.

 

Dream Girl

(5,111 posts)
27. Just in time for the RNC convention!
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:50 PM
Jun 2020

No need to wear masks or social distant! Trump was right all along!

silverweb

(16,402 posts)
16. Not buying it.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:12 PM
Jun 2020

This may be true. Then again, it might not be entirely true. My spidey sense says it's illogical and therefore not to be trusted, so I'm going to err on the side of caution.

RobinA

(9,878 posts)
46. I Always Thought
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 06:08 PM
Jun 2020

it was illogical to spread it when asymptomatic. Not saying it doesn’t, just that it didn’t seem quite right to me. I think it’s going to turn out that most of the sure things are going to turn out to be bull. It’s mainly spread by touching contaminated surfaces, no by droplets. A sore throat is a good sign you have it, no it’s not. No GI involvement, oh wait, yes there is.

silverweb

(16,402 posts)
54. We're still figuring this one out.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 10:39 PM
Jun 2020

When we consider that this virus is new and behaving in unusual ways, it's not surprising that many bits of information seem like contradictions to what is already "known." The catch is that what is "known" isn't always complete or accurate yet.

For example: At first, COVID-19 seemed to be a respiratory disease causing pneumonia. Now we know it attacks the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels in every part of the body, not just the lungs. The following article gives a very good overview of the situation: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/blood-vessel-attack-could-trigger-coronavirus-fatal-second-phase. This changes everything -- and there is still so much more to learn.

The information coming out about COVID-19 is continuous, in bits and pieces, from all over the world. It's going to be quite some time before all this data is assembled, analyzed, and understood by researchers. Meanwhile, as far as what to believe, I'll continue to err on the side of caution.

IronLionZion

(45,258 posts)
17. Somehow it managed to spread globally very quickly
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:16 PM
Jun 2020

so it was people with bad symptoms spreading it around to church choirs and fellow travelers?

Initech

(99,914 posts)
45. Seems like it spread more indoors than outdoors very quickly.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 06:07 PM
Jun 2020

Plus also combine cold weather and a virus that lives and thrives in cold weather and you have a perfect storm waiting to happen. Most of the major spreading incidents happened more indoors than outdoors. And a lot of it too seemed to happen way more in closed environments with centralized, circulated air. Which is what led to the banning of most large events - both indoors and outdoors. Bill Maher was discussing this on last week's show.

PaulRevere08

(449 posts)
25. Puzzling - the whole purpose to wearing a mask if that if you have it and don't know it
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:44 PM
Jun 2020

you are protecting others. My question is that even if they are asymptomatic, are they still shedding virus cells the same way as those that are showing symptoms?

GeorgeGist

(25,294 posts)
29. Cool story CNBC
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 04:55 PM
Jun 2020

An earlier headline should have said most asymptomatic coronavirus patients aren’t spreading new infections. The word “most” was inadvertedly omitted.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
32. Yes, lots of terms are being used.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 05:19 PM
Jun 2020

I listened carefully to the WHO doctor. She used the words "very rare" and later "rare". She said that much of the information behind that finding is not published. And it seems fairly clear that she includes both people who never exhibit symptoms (or only very mild symptoms), and people who have not yet exhibited symptoms.


LisaL

(44,962 posts)
36. I honestly don't know what is going on with WHO.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 05:35 PM
Jun 2020

First they didn't recommend masks. Then they very recently started to recommend them. Now all of the sudden they are claiming asymptomatic (or pre-symptomatic) people rarely spread it? Which seems to contradict everything else reported about this virus. Their information is not published? What has been published (I posted links) indicates people produce infectious virus before even showing any symptoms.
What gives?

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
41. It's a very complex virus
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 05:45 PM
Jun 2020

with a wide range of symptoms. The probably still have much to learn about it.

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
43. I don't understand.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 05:57 PM
Jun 2020

How would it be good for them to say nothing until they are exactly certain about everything? That's not how science works. Hell, the number of planets has changed in my lifetime. Science is an evolving thing. I remember it took years before they figured out how AIDS was transmitted.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
47. I think it is a trade off
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 06:08 PM
Jun 2020

By giving us the very latest information there is a higher chance of having to change it. I think health professionals around the world deal with this better then the general public. Of course, the mass media adds a little more confusion along the way.

RobinA

(9,878 posts)
48. They Can Make
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 06:17 PM
Jun 2020

contradictory announcements, they just shouldn’t announce them like they are 100%. CDC (although not WHO) has people screaming at other people in stores for not wearing a mask when the mask thing is totally unproven.

It’s a tough situation, in all fairness. Stupid mistakes were made coughcoughTrumpcough. But honest mistakes were made by people who were trying to be more safe than sorry.

SunSeeker

(51,368 posts)
49. BS. I hate weasel words like "rare." Give me a fucking number.
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 06:31 PM
Jun 2020

Last edited Mon Jun 8, 2020, 07:29 PM - Edit history (1)

I mean, it is "rare" to die of Covid-19 if you get it, but SO MANY PEOPLE (millions) are getting Covid-19 that we have 110k dead from it.

Researchers in Iceland reported that 50 percent of their novel coronavirus cases who tested positive had no symptoms. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/50-percent-of-people-with-covid19-not-aware-have-virus

50% is a LOT of people, so even if "rare," asymptotic spread still means a lot of spread. Every day there are 20,000 new symptomatic cases in the US (we only test symptomatic people).
That means, per that Iceland study, that there are about 20,000 new asymptomatic cases each day too. That is a LOT of asymptomatic people. Let's say just 1% of asymptomatic people spread the disease (again, she did not offer up a numbet, but let's fucking guess at what she meant, since she gives us no alternative), if there are currently 100k asymptomatic people (it's probably a lot more than that) in the US, then 1,000 are actively spreading the virus. That is a big problem.

But MAGAts don't care about any of that. They are creaming themselves posting this story all over the internet because they think it proves coronavirus is not so bad. Fucking insane.

rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
51. "Some people...who are infected...never develop symptoms
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 08:38 PM
Jun 2020

Last edited Sat Jun 13, 2020, 10:13 PM - Edit history (3)

or only develop mild symptoms. Others might not develop symptoms until days after they were actually infected."

But they are all CAPABLE of spreading the virus in the meantime, however "rarely" they are successful: for that reason alone, they should be tested for and properly quarantined. And if they are a "minority group" among those who are still spreading the virus, then -- if you'll pardon the expression -- WHO is doing the MAJORITY of the spreading?


rocktivity
 

Demonmogirl

(14 posts)
55. It seems hard to believe
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 10:41 PM
Jun 2020

But if you don't have symptoms then you may not be coughing or sneezing, that could help stop it. Good news.

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
57. Research has demonstrated that live virus remains in the air for around 15 minutes after normal
Mon Jun 8, 2020, 11:56 PM
Jun 2020

taking without a mask. Live virus has been found in asymptomatic people. Ergo, asymptomatic people can transmit the virus. Seniors are especially vulnerable... even a single virion seems to be able to make them catch it.

WHO isn’t making sense to me.

Welcome to DU!

Bayard

(21,805 posts)
58. Ehhhh.......
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 10:52 AM
Jun 2020

Wonder if this is one more thing the admin is pushing them to say, so more people will go back to work and we can have baseball games and MAGA rallies.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
61. You would think that Trump wouldn't have a lot of influence over WHO
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 01:19 PM
Jun 2020

given he had badmouthed them, cut a major part of their funding, and withdrew the US.

littlemissmartypants

(22,418 posts)
60. Every human that I come into contact with I consider a carrier until proven otherwise.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 12:36 PM
Jun 2020

One of the perks of being an introvert, not being afraid of limiting your contact with people.

Plus, I try not to put all of my blind faith in one basket, but thanks anyway W.H.O.

EleanorR

(2,374 posts)
62. WHO walks back comments on asymptomatic coronavirus spread
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 02:08 PM
Jun 2020

“I was responding to a question at the press conference. I wasn’t stating a policy of WHO or anything like that. I was just trying to articulate what we know,” she said on a live Q&A streamed across multiple social media platforms. “And in that, I used the phrase ‘very rare,’ and I think that that’s misunderstanding to state that asymptomatic transmission globally is very rare. I was referring to a small subset of studies.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/09/who-scrambles-to-clarify-comments-on-asymptomatic-coronavirus-spread-much-is-still-unknown.html

SunSeeker

(51,368 posts)
63. Yup, I knew it, she misspoke. All the anti-mask MAGAts must be having a sad.
Tue Jun 9, 2020, 04:23 PM
Jun 2020

They thought her original comments showed coronavirus s not so bad and proved their conspiracy theory that social distancing and mask rules are a plot by Democrats to take away our freedom. They are of course dead wrong:

Nearly Half of Coronavirus Spread May Be Traced to People Without Any Symptoms
https://time.com/5848949/covid-19-asymptomatic-spread/

rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
68. DING DING DING! Rocktivity, you're our grand prize winner!
Sat Jun 13, 2020, 10:10 PM
Jun 2020
(I)f (the asymptomatic) are a "minority group" among those who are still spreading the virus, then -- if you'll pardon the expression -- WHO is doing the MAJORITY of the spreading?

I love the smell of exoneration in the morning.


rocktivity

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
71. Iceland's experience with Covid19
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 07:01 AM
Jun 2020

Lots of interesting stuff here although some won't like the part about mask-wearing: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/06/08/how-iceland-beat-the-coronavirus

The gist is that Iceland's success came from contact tracing and quarantining.

Meanwhile, deCODE was also sequencing the virus from every Icelander whose test had come back positive. As the virus is passed from person to person, it picks up random mutations. By analyzing these, geneticists can map the disease’s spread. At the beginning of the outbreak, travellers returning to Iceland from the Italian Alps seemed to be the primary source of infections. But researchers at deCODE found that, while attention had been focussed on Italy, the virus had been quietly slipping into the country from several other nations, including Britain. Travellers from the West Coast of the U.S. had brought in one strain, and travellers from the East Coast another. The East Coast strain had been imported to America from Italy or Austria, then exported back to Europe.

By sequencing the virus from every person infected, researchers at deCODE could also make inferences about how it had spread. “One of the very interesting things is that, in all our data, there are only two examples where a child infected a parent,” Stefánsson told me. “But there are lots of examples where parents infected children.”

FakeNoose

(32,349 posts)
72. They're not telling the whole story here
Sun Jun 14, 2020, 08:47 AM
Jun 2020

The word "asymptomatic" isn't being used correctly in this case. They should be saying "presymptomatic," and yes it has been a major cause for the rapid spread of the virus.

We learned even before the pandemic became serious that the incubation period for the virus is up to 2 weeks, in which case the person could be exposed and carrying the virus while not showing symptoms yet. The symptoms do show up eventually and patient is forced to deal with the fact they have this virus. Meanwhile they've been going around exposing others (including their own families) to the same illness unknowingly.

THAT was why we had to start wearing facemasks, practice social distancing, frequent hand-washing, etc. With the lockdown we all acted as if everyone else might be carrying the virus, and we all had to maintain distance to keep our loved ones safe. Those who actually were carrying the virus did start showing symptoms soon enough. There are no silent carriers, as the word "asymptomatic" might suggest.



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