Demystifying asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, an infectious disease specialist weighs in

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — If the coronavirus itself wasn’t enough of a mystery, the number of people suspected to be asymptomatic has been described by health experts as outrageous, baffling and unlike any virus the world has ever seen before.

According to a study by researchers in Britain and Italy, over 40% of those infected showed no symptoms, yet tested positive for COVID-19. But why do they never show signs of sickness?

“It’s very possible people who are asymptomatic have stronger immune systems or are just a little bit less susceptible to getting this infection than someone else,” Dr. Doug Brown, infectious disease specialist at UC Health told News 8. “But it still remains a question.”

But there’s also pre-symptomatic people who don’t show signs at the time of a positive diagnosis but do develop them over time. 

This raises the question: Would someone who is asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic be as contagious as someone who has a severe case of COVID-19?

“We don’t have a definite answer,” Brown said. “But I think people who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic are less contagious than someone who is really sick just because the main way COVID-19 is spread is by these big infected droplets that someone sneezes or coughs out. So, if you’re not sick and you’re not sneezing or coughing you’re probably not as likely to spread the infection.” 

News 8’s medical reporter, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Gillis, D.Ed., is a classically trained medical physiologist and biobehavioral research scientist. She has been a health, medical and science reporter for over 5 years. Her work has appeared in national media outlets. You can follow her on Instagram @reportergillis and Facebook @DrMaryGillis.