Asymptomatic in COVID-19

The Term 'Asymptomatic' Is More Complicated Than It Seems When It Comes To Coronavirus Infections.

Asymptomatic

Dr. Isaac Bogoch and Dr. Allan Detsky warn that the ultimate weapon for a virus that “wants” to inflict devastation is the asymptomatic spreader.

The amount of harm a virus can inflict on humans depends on two important characteristics: lethality and rate of transmission.

Fortunately, viruses that quickly kill their human hosts don’t typically get very far outside of the settings where infected people are cared for (think Ebola). But conversely, viruses that kill only a very small proportion of their human hosts can inflict much greater total harm.

This is especially true of viruses like Covid-19 that cause the majority of individuals a minimal amount of damage, if they even present symptoms at all. The ultimate weapon for a virus that “wants” to inflict devastation is the asymptomatic spreader, which is capable of widespread transmission even if the virus only kills a very small proportion (e.g. 1%).

So what exactly does

asymptomatic mean?

In medicine, it means that a person has absolutely no symptoms. None. Even under persistent questioning, asymptomatic people deny they ever experienced any of the signs (like fever) or symptoms (like muscle aches). So who are these asymptomatic individuals infected with Covid-19? How do we find them, and what is their contribution to fuelling this pandemic? Like many aspects of this pandemic, the answer to that is complicated.

“paucisymptomatic”

“subclinical”

People who are currently categorized as having asymptomatic Covid-19 infections appear on a spectrum ranging from those who are truly asymptomatic to those who have mild symptoms but don’t seek medical support.

The latter group is sometimes referred to as “paucisymptomatic” or “subclinical” because they are below the threshold of detection by the healthcare system. These individuals rarely alter their daily activity, so no one knows they are infected.

For example, many media outlets reported the findings of Covid-19 in Iceland, highlighting that almost 50% of those infected were asymptomatic. But the study actually reported that “43% of the participants who tested positive reported no symptoms, although symptoms almost certainly developed later in some of them.” So the true percentage of asymptomatic individuals was actually even smaller than 43%.

By isolating these individuals and their close contacts sooner, we could reduce the spread of the virus.

France will enter a new nationwide lockdown

France will enter a new nationwide lockdown starting Friday and lasting at least the whole of November in order to control the spread of the novel coronavirus, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday evening.

The new measures echo the eight-week lockdown that France enforced in the spring, when hospitalizations and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reached a peak. The lockdown was effective at containing the pandemic, but the virus started spreading again after relaxing rules starting May 11.

The new measures Macron announced –

which will last until December 1 – will mean people have to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods, seek medical attention, or use their daily one-hour allocation of exercise.

Anyone leaving their home will have to carry a special document justifying being outside, which can be checked by police, he said. Restaurants, cafes and shops not selling essential goods will have to close down for at least the next two weeks.

Germany will begin a new round of shutdowns for a month from November 2nd

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered a new round of shutdowns for the cultural, leisure and food and drink sectors from Monday November 2 until the end of the month, although Germans will not be confined to their homes.

Bars, cafes and restaurants must close, as well as theatres, operas and cinemas. Hotel stays are to be restricted while professional sports, including Bundesliga football, is set to be been pushed back behind closed doors.

Shops and schools are to remain open, unlike during Germany's shutdown during the first phase of the pandemic in March and April. Restaurants will be able to provide take-out food.

Merkel appealed to people not to make unnecessary journeys and said hotels won't be able to accommodate people on tourist trips.

来源：Forbes, 中国日报双语新闻，图片来源于网络，如侵删

记者：长谣

监制：李璨

责任编辑：戴晨