Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

September 23, 2020

Occurrence and Transmission Potential of Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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  • A meta-analysis of 94 studies reported that 20% of people who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 remain asymptomatic throughout the infection. The meta-analytic estimate showed a non-significantly lower secondary attack rate in contacts of people with asymptomatic infection compared to those with symptomatic infection (RR=0.35, 95%CI 0.10-1.27). The authors conclude that a combination of prevention measures, with enhanced hand hygiene, masks, contact tracing and testing, isolation strategies, and social distancing, will continue to be needed.

Buitrago-Garcia et al. (Sept 22, 2020). Occurrence and Transmission Potential of Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLOS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003346