Coronavirus: many infections spread by people yet to show symptoms - scientists
Source: The Guardian
Coronavirus: many infections spread by people yet to show symptoms (est: 45% to 85%)
An analysis of infections in Singapore and Tianjin in China revealed that two-thirds and three-quarters of people respectively appear to have caught it from others who were incubating the virus but still symptom-free.
Researchers in Belgium and the Netherlands drew on data from outbreaks in Singapore and Tianjin to work out the "generation interval" for Covid-19. The generation interval is the time between one person getting infected and them infecting another. The figure is valuable for estimating the speed at which an outbreak will unfold.
The mean generation interval was 5.2 days in the Singapore cluster and 3.95 days in the China cluster, according to the analysis which is under review at an infectious disease journal. The scientists went on to calculate what proportion of infections were likely spread from people who were still incubating the virus and had yet to develop symptoms.
There are uncertainties in the figures because the scientists did not have precise information on who infected whom in the two clusters of disease. But even the lowest estimates show there was substantial transmission of coronavirus from people who had yet to fall ill.
In the Singapore cluster, between 45% and 84% of infections appeared to come from people incubating the virus. In China, the figures ranged from 65% to as much as 87%.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/mar/12/coronavirus-most-infections-spread-by-people-yet-to-show-symptoms-scientists
Asymptotic people are not going to self-isolate. If these high rates of transmission from people incubating the virus are anywhere near accurate, the entire world needs to rethink testing criteria.
Widespread testing -- of symptomatic and asymptotic -- must be instituted. We know asymptotic people can test positive. We have reports of people with no symptoms testing positive. ID every positive we can. What we need to know is what the false negative rate is prior to developing symptoms. That must be known to determine how soon to retest.
Get that "can do" American spirit going.
Collection kits are dirt cheap. Health care personnel can have stacks of them available. The "bottleneck" is processing.
If every university or public-funded medical center across the nation were "geared up" to have the test processing and reporting capacity the University of Washington currently has (1500 per day), perhaps we could begin to make a dent.
If every private lab capable of testing were brought online, perhaps we could make a bigger dent. Fuck the incompetent and inadequate distribution of the "rationed" CDC tests. NO state or public health authority can rely on the Feds.
If drive thru testing sites like the one University of Washington Medical set up for its employees (soon to be expanded) were set up, perhaps we could make an even bigger dent.
If foundations and public health entities lauched home testing programs, like the one the Gates foundation is working to launch for residents of Seattle, perhaps we could make an even bigger dent.
If any symptomatic person self-isolates until they are "cleared" through testing, we can shift attention to more widespread testing.
There also needs to be a shift to thinking about ways to identify virus free people who can safely continue working. people able to keep economies on life support.
Sure, we need bailouts, obviously we need "social distancing," but we also need appropriations to fund BIG testing programs -- general surveillance testing to identify "hot spots" -- areas where concentrated efforts are needed to test and monitor as many people as we possibly can.
BigmanPigman
(51,626 posts)those who are more at risk. They are carriers I think, therefore it is even more important to close schools, etc. When will all the schools in the US close? Four or 5 closed them today.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)We are beginning to "lock down" big time.
As far as school closures, I can't help but wonder how we can cope with this as a nation as more and more people need to stay home just to take care of the kids -- never mind people staying home because they have a cold or flu that could be COVID-19.
Without information, we must assume the worst, and take more and more extreme "general" measures. And in doing so, face more and more disruptions of our lives and our economy.
Until large scale testing gets off the ground -- IF we get our act together and get it off the ground -- we really have no idea what we are ACTUALLY up against. Testing -- learning actual infection rates and spread in different areas -- allows for more targeted approach.
We need to identify as many asymptotic positives as possible and get them quarantined.
We need to prioritize identifying positives who live with or work with the most vulnerable people -- and get them AWAY from those people (and that means the ability to move people who live with vulnerable people, elsewhere).
Not testing people who are self-isolating with symptoms is insanity. We need to know who has has it, so when they recover, we have identified people who, are, at least for some period of time -- immune. We need to know which of the symptomatic just have a cold or flu, and are therefore still vulnerable to infection after they recover.
Without widespread testing, we don't know a god damn thing and can't coordinate any sort of effective, rational, response, aside from the closures of all public spaces, schools, and on and on.
Perhaps it's "too late" -- time to give up on doing massive, meaningful testing, and just "lock down." But I don't believe that. Whatever else we do, getting INFORMATION that can only be gotten through testing is vital to managing the crisis.
BigmanPigman
(51,626 posts)and she said that "we must TEST, TEST, TEST!" and she repeated it several times throughout the presser. We don't know shit about this virus and we won't know shit until EVERYONE is tested in the US. Everyone must be tested ASAP for the reasons you stated so well.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)I think any money fed to the CDC to broaden testing would go into a black hole.
We need to look to public and private medical centers and labs if we're going to get anywhere.
If the CDC gets it's act together, great, but I have ZERO confidence they are capable given their f-ups to date.
Dem2theMax
(9,653 posts)And now.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)I am willing to bet most of them lack the financial resources to remain self quartained for long if at all.
Pobeka
(4,999 posts)Simply following good hygiene, avoiding optional contacts. Keeping a space of 5-6 feet between others, changing your shopping habits. Any or all makes a difference.
https://www.flattenthecurve.com/
This is an approach everyone can do now, does not require any technology or resources. And it works.
But, as Pelosi points out, we still need to test, test, test and implement more targeted interventions.
We need area-specific data to plan response and prepare. Resources may need to be allocated from hospitals in low incidence areas to those with higher incidence. Hospitals in high incidence areas may need to move patients out to make room for expected incoming patients. If you have numbers that give you a real clue to rates in an area, you can make life saving preparations in advance of the "flood."
pat_k
(9,313 posts)...of asymptomatic, we will begin to ID "asymptomatic positives" and at least get them quarantined. Each person identified reduces the R zero (they aren't out there infecting the average of 3 others, or whatever the current estimate is).
Priority would need to be on people who work with or live with vulnerable people, people most likely to have been exposed (perhaps attendance at big event in past week in an area with identified cases, or visited a nursing home with positive case(s), healthcare workers, and employees in customer service that interact with large numbers of people, to name just a few groups off the top of my head).
The problem with testing asymptomatic is that a negative doesn't necessarily mean you are "home free" -- there are some number of false negatives, but I haven't seen any figures estimating that rate. If it is unknown, more widespread testing, with some number of retests of negative, should give data to determine it. In any case, even if the false negative rate is relatively high, given the high rate of transmission from people "incubating" the virus, every one identified and quarantined is a victory.
Help with financial burden would require some sort of temporary benefit program. If a global "paid leave for quarantine" can't get through, perhaps a needs-based program could.
Igel
(35,350 posts)until tested.
Only 330 million of us. And given false positives and negatives, testing each of us twice should be adequate. That's what's being said, and the "test, test, test" statement is both true, unworkable, and political (given the shoddy testing roll-out of the Trump administration).
Then there's what to do about those who refuse to get tested, who live in Podunksville, just outside of Hoople, North South Dakota, Jimmy Bob the homeless guy who's convinced people are out to kill him, and Yitzhak Ahmedovich Shen y Lopez who undocumentedly immigrated here last week and only speaks Soqotri but doesn't want to be sent back.
People hate uncertainty, some more than others. As one health person pointed out, the only reason for testing at this point is to confirm somebody needs to self-quarantine (as opposed to "I strongly suspect" and with the asymptomatic rate being what it is--and people *not* testing positive for a day or two after they've been exposed and *continuing* to test positive for it up to 10 days after they're better, the massive testing becomes virtue or fear signaling.
Wife insisted a doctor test our kid for flu a couple of years ago. (She repeated it a year later with strep.) The doctor said there was no point--flu-like symptoms, you treat the symptoms. But flu test. When the test came back positive, wife was relieved and asked what they should do. And got exactly the same set of instructions--but somehow seemed more satisfied. (I asked what the doctor would have said if the test came back negative and was told, "Same thing." Waste of medical staff time, our time, and supplies.
Bayard
(22,130 posts)It sounds like you gain no immunity from having the virus. So if you test negative once you're all better, you can still catch it again next week. Just testing once is not going to do the job.
I'm also afraid people who test negative will think they are invincible.
I was checking out at Walgreens a few days ago with prescriptions. I asked the pharmacy clerk if they had seen anyone with Corona virus symptoms. She said--what's that?
pat_k
(9,313 posts)Two negative tests as confirmation of recovery from the virus should be accompanied by a test for the presence of the antibody.
I think we don't know enough now to know how long immunity generally lasts. I know there was a report about a fairly rapid reinfection in a recovered person, but it's unclear to me how common that is. There may have been reason unique to the person that explains why the antibody didn't "last" in them.
Part of research will be testing recovered for presence of the antibody over the course of many months to determine how long it generally "lasts."
Whatever we know, or learn about how long immunity lasts, and the possibility of it lasting only a short time, must be conveyed to every person deemed "recovered." That should help limit any "invincible" feeling they might walk away with.
Igel
(35,350 posts)"Reinfection" is not the same thing as "testing positive after recovery". There are mechanisms proposed that explain why you're not reinfected even though you test positive (intermittently, in most cases) after recovery, mechanisms that consider exactly what the tests check for.
It's the same error politicians and education administrators make when it come to "learning" and "testing". If a kid gets an 80, it means he learned it. 24 hours later he may fail the test because he crammed just the minimum number of facts, knew nothing more, retained little, and can't apply it, but dammit he "mastered" it and it shows our teachers is learning our childrens real good like.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)JudyM
(29,270 posts)Ive been diving into the covid-19 research and this is the best Ive seen as an explanation of this phenomenon.
The most important thing that public health officials arent making enough of a point of is that 6 feet is not adequate distance... the virus is aerosolized, not just in cough/sneeze droplets, and lingers in the air for, it appears, up to a few hours. We need to be far more careful than theyre telling us to be. IMO we should all be wearing masks whether were sick or not, as unpopular as that seems to be.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)On masks.
It's hard to get N95 at all, much less one that fits (i.e., no leakage when you blow air out)
"Blow out" test is not as effective as testing that uses smell or taste, but at least it identifies truly poor fit.
Unless a mask actually fits, it might give a false sense of security, which could result in the wearer actually taking more risks.
Care is also required to avoid "self-contamination" when putting on or taking off.
I'm not saying people shouldn't wear masks. Just saying folks need to be aware of proper use and limits (take all the precautions you would if you weren't wearing a mask).
JudyM
(29,270 posts)it has prevented it from getting in your nose and setting up shop, directly.
In order to have increased risk by wearing a mask, youd have to put your fingers in one of your facial orifices after removing it, assuming you touched where the virus was on the mask. This is indirect and a lower likelihood of exposure.
If you dont put the mask on properly it will still block some of the virus from getting through, presumably, not actually increase the exposure to the virus.
It seems paternalistic of the government to be telling us we shouldnt wear masks because we dont know how or well get a false sense of safety. Just tell everyone how to wear them... I dont see the need for it to be done perfectly in order to reduce the existing risk of exposure.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)Nurses who describe the "smell/taste" test for fit recognize how easily "stuff" in the air gets through even tiny gaps.
As far as increased exposure. I didn't mean person with ill fitting mask would be at greater risk if they behave the same way they would if they didn't have the mask on. I meant that donning a mask that is not properly fitted may make them "braver" out of a false sense of security. For example, someone who will only get on the subway if they have a mask on. (Came across someone who asserted this.)
As I said in the post, I am NOT saying people shouldn't wear masks. Only that they need to understand how limited the protection is if the mask is not properly fitted.
If there is something they wouldn't do without a mask on, they shouldn't do it with an ill fitting mask either. If you have no choice but to go to the store, sure, put on whatever type of mask you want. Perhaps it will offer protection of keeping out some percentage of the virus if it's in the air. However, understand that it will absolutely not keep it all out. Perhaps lowering the "burden" makes a difference, but if it is in the air surrounding you and if the mask doesn't make a good "sea,l" you will breath it in.
JudyM
(29,270 posts)Igel
(35,350 posts)They are immune but still test positive because the PCR test checks for the presence of viral RNA. Once the virus is dead and chopped, you're still expelling those fragments, a process that can last for a week or two.
Bayard
(22,130 posts)You gotta hope the CDC has thought of that, even if its impossible to explain to trump.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)In a pharmacy no less.
Stay safe, g.f., and away from folks who have no clue.
Linda Ed
(493 posts)People are losing LOTS of money because of fear mongering. If you notice, in almost every single election cycle there is some kind of virus outbreak. And people are hoarding toilet paper of all things. Toilet Paper? What is the deal with toilet paper? Shelves are empty with that and water, and bread...lines are a mile long..it's crazy..you would think it was the end of the world.
pat_k
(9,313 posts)Robust testing would have given us much needed information. Realistic, data based assessments.
As it is, we really don't know a damn thing about the rate of infection, and not knowing that means we have no real idea about how bad things could get.
In the absence of information, people jump to the worst case scenarios. If, nine times out of ten, a shadow that could be a lion is actually a bush, the person who always assumes it must be a bush gets eaten 10% of the time. The one that assumes all those shadows are lions, and acts accordingly, always survives.
It's built into our DNA -- into how we think.
ABC 4 NY
The Psychology of Stockpiling: Why People Are Panic-Buying Toilet Paper