Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 18, 2020

Substantial undocumented infection facilitates the rapid dissemination of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

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  • Researchers estimate that prior to the Wuhan travel shutdown (Jan 23, 202), 86% of all COVID-19 infections were undocumented. They also estimate that these undocumented cases were about half as contagious as documented infection. Undocumented cases prior to the Wuhan quarantine likely explain the rapid geographic spread of the virus. 

Li et al. (Feb 17, 2020). Substantial undocumented infection facilitates the rapid dissemination of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Pre-print downloaded Feb 18 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.14.20023127