STEALTH TRANSMISSIONS UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

Coronavirus: Infected People Without Symptoms Are Driving Epidemic’s Fast Spread, Says New Study

LAPPL News Watch
March 17, 2020

People with mild or no symptoms of COVID-19 are the main drivers behind the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, according to an important new analysis of China’s outbreak released on Monday.

These so-called “stealth” transmissions underscore the importance of “social distancing” measures that are now being enacted in communities across the U.S. and Europe, the researchers said.

Unrecognized infections can expose a far greater portion of the population to virus than would otherwise occur.

“We need to keep people apart,” said researcher Jeffrey Shaman of Columbia University Mailman School, who co-authored the study with colleague Sen Pei.

The research is published in Monday’s issue of the journal Science, the same day 6 Bay Area counties announced strict new orders telling most of the region’s 7 million residents to stay home except for essential trips such as to the supermarket.

The order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. March 17 and expires on April 7 unless extended.