Study: Yes, Half of Coronavirus Carriers Show No Symptoms

NEOSCOPE ^ | 26 Mar, 2020 | Foster Kamer

[MtnClimber]

What we’re learning from Iceland this week is as fascinating as it is crucial to fighting the coronavirus epidemic: That somewhere in the neighborhood of half of everyone testing positive for the coronavirus will show absolutely no symptoms. The hard data, out of Iceland, straight from their (impressive) health ministry’s dedicated COVID-19 page: – As of March 25, Iceland has administered 12,615 tests. – Of those tests, Iceland has found 802 confirmed cases. – While it might not sound like a lot, in a sparsely-populated nation of around 364,000 citizens, it’s an impressive number. They’ve nearly tested 3.4 percent of the entire country

(snip)

“Early results from deCode Genetics indicate that a low proportion of the general population has contracted the virus and that about half of those who tested positive are non-symptomatic,” said [Iceland’s chief epidemiologist Thorolfur] Guðnason. “The other half displays very moderate cold-like symptoms.”

[MtnClimber]

There is supposed to be a pin prick antibody test coming out that takes 5 minutes to complete. That will provide much needed information.

[dfwgator]

There is supposed to be a pin prick antibody test

They'll be no more "AAAAAAAAAH!"

[MtnClimber]

Okay, but are the asymptomatic people spreading the virus?

Possibly/probably. The incubation period is long and there is evidence that people shed virus before showing symptoms.

[windsorknot]

They'll be no more "AAAAAAAAAH!"

But you may feel a little sick

[BenLurkin]

But you may feel a little sick

[Nifster]

Now study regular flu

[Nifster]

I’ll take that over a false negative

[glorgau]

If so, then the chance of containing it is near zero.

[hoosierham]

And this is different from other illnesses?

With UNIVERSAL accurate testing all these numbers are just WAG.

[hoosierham]

With should be without. Darn phone.

[myerson]

News headline: “2020, the first year with no colds or flu cases reported”.

[Track9]

My thought too.

[null and void]

That’s probably the case with most viruses, including some of the the most severe historical pandemics. Not really a startling revelation.

Yep. But this time they'll be added to the denominator, and that compared to historical epidemics, will lower the perceived death rate.

The low reported rate will be used to bludgeon Orange Man Bad for overreacting...

Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

The false positive rate was 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

If a quarantine saves just one child's or one old fart’s life, it's worth it.

[Black Agnes]

Lots of posters on this very forum are doing that.

[null and void]

Yup. Without any actual data to support, just TDS.

[DarthVader]

The speed at which it spreads and turns into pneumonia is the main concern.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

There is once certainty in this. There is no and never will be a bowl of Trump porridge that's "just right."

[Robert DeLong]

I love how they laud Iceland health ministry as impressive, to then go on and talk about the small population of Iceland. I guess a sparsely populated island country is going to seem more impressive, as long as it has the tools to work with. In this case, test kits.

[null and void]

Well said!

[Robert DeLong]

Apples & Oranges. They have 1/100th of the population as this country.