Asymptomatic Covid-19 patients are four times less likely to spread the virus in comparison with the symptomatic ones, according to a study by researchers at the Imperial College London.
According to public health experts, since an asymptomatic person doesn't have symptoms like coughing and sneezing, he or she is less likely to spread the infections, Times of India reported.
“If one is asymptomatic, he or she is not coughing and sneezing etc. So, the chance of spreading infection to a large distance becomes less. Also, the duration of the viral load is shorter in such people as compared to those who have symptoms,” AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria told TOI.
Initially, the World Health Organisation (WHO), epidemiologists and health had asserted that the pandemic was being driven more by asymptomatic patients as it was difficult to identify, test and isolate such patients. The study conducted by the Imperial College London gives credence to this assumption.
“Those with symptoms must get themselves tested and isolate themselves as early as possible because chances of spreading the virus is maximum during the first one or two days,” Dr Guleria added.
According to Dr K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India, symptomatic patients of Covid-19 also posed more danger because the proportion of such people in the population was much higher than those who were asymptomatic.
The study is the statistical analysis of dozens of contact-tracing reports. It also indicates that sharing home with patients pose more risk of getting infected.
