Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

June 15, 2020

Natural History of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection

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  • Sakurai et al. reported a case series of 90 patients from the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were asymptomatic when they tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and remained asymptomatic throughout the course of the infection. The median number of days between the first positive PCR result and the first of the two serial negative results was 9 days (IQR 6-11, range 3-21), and the cumulative percentages of people with resolution of infection within 8 and 15 days after the first positive result were 48% and 90%, respectively. The likelihood of delayed resolution increased with age. 

Sakurai et al. (June 12, 2020). Natural History of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2013020