Did you hear about the big WHO statement? Apparently, people who don't have symptoms aren't spreading the virus! — Optimists everywhere Hot And Cold Pack For Face,Hot And Cold Gel Pack For Face Ningbo Hejia Ice pack co. LTD, , https://www.cooling-pack.com
The recent WHO announcement about asymptomatic spread has been making waves across all my feeds. It's understandable why people are so excited about this. The CNBC headline screams, "Asymptomatic spread of coronavirus is 'very rare,' WHO says." If people without symptoms aren’t spreading it, then there’s no need for all these masks and social distancing measures. We can finally defeat the coronavirus by just isolating those who are visibly ill!
However, there’s a major issue with all of this: **none of it is accurate**.
Contrary to popular belief, the WHO did not claim that asymptomatic individuals are not spreading the virus. Even their initial statement about "asymptomatic" spreaders was wildly misinterpreted by journalists, especially by CNBC. They’ve since tried to clarify their position, but the damage has already been done.
But before I break this down further, here’s something important you should know: studies suggest that **35 to 44 percent of SARS-CoV-2 infections occur from people who weren’t showing symptoms when they transmitted the virus**.
Even if you or the people around you don’t have symptoms, **you still need to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask**. We still need to be cautious about spread from people who don’t appear sick.
For more on this, check out this study showing how "silent" COVID-19 infections are more common than previously thought.
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### Anatomy of a Science Communications Catastrophe
To fully grasp the misunderstanding surrounding the WHO announcement, you need to know the difference between two types of asymptomatic transmission:
1. **Asymptomatic Transmission**: Occurs when someone spreads the virus but never develops symptoms.
2. **Presymptomatic Transmission**: Happens when someone spreads the virus before they start showing symptoms.
In both scenarios, the spreader isn’t showing symptoms at the time of transmission, but in the latter case, they eventually do. In some cases, presymptomatic spreaders might experience very mild symptoms, like slight fatigue or a minor drop in oxygen levels, which they may not even notice.
The WHO was trying to say that **true asymptomatic spread is likely not the primary driver of the pandemic**, as it seems relatively uncommon and doesn’t lead to many secondary infections. That said, even this limited claim is debated among infectious disease experts.
Here’s a link to a thread on Twitter breaking it all down: [Link to Twitter Thread](https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1270107094704812032).
Unfortunately, once the media got hold of the story, everything got twisted. Science reporters interpreted "asymptomatic transmission" as meaning "people who aren’t showing obvious symptoms," and "not the main driver of the pandemic" became "rare and not worth worrying about." Now, people are celebrating this misinformation as if it means the pandemic is almost over.
If your loved ones are cheering about the idea that you can only catch the virus from visibly sick people, please correct them. So far, the evidence suggests that it’s entirely possible to contract the virus from someone who doesn’t appear sick. This misunderstanding could lead people to abandon essential safety measures, worsening the outbreak.
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### For More on COVID-19 Protection:
- Smooth Operator: A Gentleman’s Guide to Beards, Masks, and Pandemic Shaving
- New Study: You Can Use an Old Prom Dress to Make a Mask That Works Like an N95
- How to Disinfect Packages From COVID-19
- Cold or COVID-19? How to Use a Pulse Oximeter to Check Your Lung Health
Stay safe, stay informed, and keep wearing those masks!