A total of 40% of people infected with coronavirus in the quarantined north Italian town of Vo experienced no symptoms, according to a new study.
The study, led by a scientist at Italy’s Padua University and Imperial College London, also provided evidence that mass testing and localised lockdowns can help slow the spread of the virus.
Vo, which has a population of nearly 3,200, was put on lockdown for two weeks following the country’s first coronavirus death on 21 February. Almost the whole town was then tested.
Results showed that at the beginning of quarantine, 2.6% of the town – or 73 people – were positive. After two weeks, just 29 tested positive. Both times, around 40% of positive cases were asymptomatic.
However, the virus was controlled as those who tested positive – including those who had no symptoms – were quarantined straight away.
“Despite ‘silent’ and widespread transmission, the disease can be controlled,” said Andrea Crisanti, a professor at Padua and Imperial who co-led the work.
“Testing of all citizens, whether or not they have symptoms, provides a way to … prevent outbreaks getting out of hand.”
Source:Â bbc.com