Analysis of Japanese coronavirus cases highlights risk of asymptomatic transmission

An analysis of 3,184 coronavirus cases in Japan released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday highlights the risk young, seemingly healthy people can still pose during the pandemic.

In the study, most of the "primary case-patients" — people who began a chain of transmission — were between the ages of 20 and 39 and either not yet showing symptoms or asymptomatic at the point of transmission.

As is often the case when it comes to research about the novel coronavirus, the analysis is not definitive — looking at 61 infection clusters isn't enough to make any sweeping statement. But the data does seem to bolster the hypothesis that asymptomatic transmission — which has been the source of much confusion throughout the pandemic, even for the World Health Organization — is a threat, as initially thought. Read more here.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up