Matthew
11th June 2021, 00:08
What is the truth about asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2? The asymptomatic aspect combined with the much-misrepresented mortality risk have underpinned the social restrictions and vaccination push.
I found this from the BMJ:
Asymptomatic transmission of covid-19
BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4851 (Published 21 December 2020)
Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m4851
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4851
...
Earlier estimates that 80% of infections are asymptomatic were too high and have since been revised down to between 17% and 20% of people with infections.12 Studies estimating this proportion are limited by heterogeneity in case definitions, incomplete symptom assessment, and inadequate retrospective and prospective follow-up of symptoms, however.3 Around 49% of people initially defined as asymptomatic go on to develop symptoms.45
It’s also unclear to what extent people with no symptoms transmit SARS-CoV-2. The only test for live virus is viral culture. PCR and lateral flow tests do not distinguish live virus. No test of infection or infectiousness is currently available for routine use.678 As things stand, a person who tests positive with any kind of test may or may not have an active infection with live virus, and may or may not be infectious.9
...
And there are LOTS of interesting responses. Here's one:
Source: https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4851/rr-4
...
Data from the COVID Symptom Study shows a relatively low number of truly asymptomatic cases.(6) Studies that have reported high numbers of asymptomatic cases focus on persistent cough, high temperature, and loss of smell, missing many other symptoms. There is a data gap as much of our existing data on covid-19 comes from hospital settings,(7) not the cases I see in the community. One third of the population with covid-19 who are said to be asymptomatic may well have other symptoms, just not a cough or high temperature – this is not the same as being asymptomatic. Furthermore, Professor Pollock’s Editorial highlights that there is no robust evidence that the asymptomatic drive COVID transmission.(8) Thomas Drosten, Germany’s leading virologist, has written that as the new variant (B.1.1.7) is missing a gene that worsens the severity of the disease, therefore it could be more harmless, spreading faster, by causing milder disease, resulting in people with mild symptoms not self-isolating, instead increasingly infecting others.(9) This may partially account for the new variant being 70% more transmissible.(10, 11)
...
I'm very interested to hear what you think or know about asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Thank you!
:bowing: :coffee: :Avalon:
I found this from the BMJ:
Asymptomatic transmission of covid-19
BMJ 2020; 371 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4851 (Published 21 December 2020)
Cite this as: BMJ 2020;371:m4851
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4851
...
Earlier estimates that 80% of infections are asymptomatic were too high and have since been revised down to between 17% and 20% of people with infections.12 Studies estimating this proportion are limited by heterogeneity in case definitions, incomplete symptom assessment, and inadequate retrospective and prospective follow-up of symptoms, however.3 Around 49% of people initially defined as asymptomatic go on to develop symptoms.45
It’s also unclear to what extent people with no symptoms transmit SARS-CoV-2. The only test for live virus is viral culture. PCR and lateral flow tests do not distinguish live virus. No test of infection or infectiousness is currently available for routine use.678 As things stand, a person who tests positive with any kind of test may or may not have an active infection with live virus, and may or may not be infectious.9
...
And there are LOTS of interesting responses. Here's one:
Source: https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4851/rr-4
...
Data from the COVID Symptom Study shows a relatively low number of truly asymptomatic cases.(6) Studies that have reported high numbers of asymptomatic cases focus on persistent cough, high temperature, and loss of smell, missing many other symptoms. There is a data gap as much of our existing data on covid-19 comes from hospital settings,(7) not the cases I see in the community. One third of the population with covid-19 who are said to be asymptomatic may well have other symptoms, just not a cough or high temperature – this is not the same as being asymptomatic. Furthermore, Professor Pollock’s Editorial highlights that there is no robust evidence that the asymptomatic drive COVID transmission.(8) Thomas Drosten, Germany’s leading virologist, has written that as the new variant (B.1.1.7) is missing a gene that worsens the severity of the disease, therefore it could be more harmless, spreading faster, by causing milder disease, resulting in people with mild symptoms not self-isolating, instead increasingly infecting others.(9) This may partially account for the new variant being 70% more transmissible.(10, 11)
...
I'm very interested to hear what you think or know about asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Thank you!
:bowing: :coffee: :Avalon: