According to several studies, asymptomatic patients are as contagious as patients suffering from symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue or loss of smell. The duration of transmission of the virus is still unknown.
Studies proving that asymptomatic people are contagious
According to a Korean study, patients without symptoms of Covid-19 transmit the virus as much as patients with symptoms. This is shown by a study carried out in the city of Daegu in Korea where 3,000 contaminations have been identified. Of the 200 participants aged 20 to 30, 20% are asymptomatic, that is, without fever or runny nose. As for the remaining 80%, it is a moderate form of the virus with body aches, fever and cough. Another study was recently published in the journal Thorax, which specializes in respiratory diseases. Samples were taken from the nose and throat of asymptomatic people and patients with mild symptoms. The two studies arrive at the same result. Unlike the flu, where the “ viral load “Increases as the appearance of different symptoms, the transmission rate for Covid-19 is the same, whether with or without symptoms. People who are asymptomatic are mostly positive on the PCR test, but also have the same amount of viral RNA as people with symptoms.
How long is the contagion?
The Minister of Health Olivier Veran indicates that we are “ more contagious in the first five days after symptoms or test positive. Then, this contagiousness decreases very significantly, and beyond a week, it is very low “. Unfortunately, this quarantine is very little respected by the French, transmitting the virus more quickly. The quarantine would even be reduced for some countries. This measure is contested in the medical community. ” Seven days would not be safe Says William Dab, epidemiologist and former health director of Journal du Dimanche. While for Patrick Vogt, general practitioner in Mulhouse, “ the virus is circulating and it is very contagious “. It indicates that “ for all these questions of duration, it remains the big vagueness “. Still uncertain about the period of contagion, Lucy Thorne of University College London recalls that “ the important public health message is that everyone should take precautions even if they have no symptoms. “