Can we predict whether a Covid-19 patient will be a silent carrier?

Epidemiological characterization of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and positivity in subsequent RT-PCR tests in the United Arab Emirates

So basically…

A large portion of Covid-19 patients don’t develop noticeable symptoms: they don’t cough or feel short of breath, they don’t run a fever, they don’t lose their sense of smell. But they still have Covid-19 and they can still spread it.

In the UAE, researchers found that you’re more likely to present symptoms if you’re older, working, or have at least one other chronic disease, such as diabetes or heart disease. This is because younger people are more likely to be healthier and not have underlying comorbidities. However, they are also more likely to be working and in contact with other people who may be carriers, with the researchers finding that those working in healthcare, aviation and tourism more likely to be symptomatic than asymptomatic.

Globally, approximately 80 percent of Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic or mild. While this is good for the patient as they experience little to none of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, a patient with no knowledge of their disease can potentially transmit the virus to other people without any awareness.

Knowing what makes a patient more or less likely to be a silent carrier could help implement prevention measures and reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Interested? You can read more here.