Episode 842

What should we know about asymptomatic carriers of the novel coronavirus?

Last week, the ICMR explained that 69% of India’s positive cases fall in the asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic category. Understanding how asymptomatic transmission can happen can have an impact on expanding our strategy to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus. Abantika Ghosh summarises why these asymptomatic cases, and even pre-symptomatic cases are significant. Next, Professor K Srinath Reddy,the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, joins us to unpack the more confusing aspects of asymptomatic cases- why is there a discrepancy in what many countries consider asymptomatic cases, what do we know about how they spread the virus, and what should India be doing differently now that we know there is such a large incidence of asymptomatic cases.

What should we know about asymptomatic carriers of the novel coronavirus?Last week, the ICMR explained that 69% of India's positive cases fall in the asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic category. Understanding how asymptomatic transmission can happen can have an impact on expanding our strategy to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus. Abantika Ghosh summarises why these asymptomatic cases, and even pre-symptomatic cases are significant. Next, Professor K Srinath Reddy,the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, joins us to unpack the more confusing aspects of asymptomatic cases- why is there a discrepancy in what many countries consider asymptomatic cases, what do we know about how they spread the virus, and what should India be doing differently now that we know there is such a large incidence of asymptomatic cases.