[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] An analysis has revealed that the proportion of asymptomatic cases among confirmed patients of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is close to 50%.
According to CNN on the 1st (local time), Icelandic authorities, together with Decode Genetics, a subsidiary of the US pharmaceutical company Amgen, conducted COVID-19 tests on the general public, and found that 50% of those who tested positive showed no symptoms.
As of the end of last month, Iceland conducted COVID-19 diagnostic tests on 17,900 people, which corresponds to about 5% of its population. This is one of the highest levels in the world.
Half of the total tests were conducted by the National University Hospital targeting high-risk groups or symptomatic individuals, while Decode Genetics tested the remaining 9,000 mainly among the general public.
The infection rate among the general public tests was found to be less than 1%.
Dr. K?ri Stef?nsson, founder of Decode Genetics, explained, "The figure that half of the infected individuals do not feel any symptoms supports several studies indicating that asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic individuals play an important role in the spread of COVID-19."
Earlier reports from researchers in the US and China estimated the proportion of asymptomatic infections to be around 25%.
However, in Iceland, where large-scale, nearly random testing was conducted on the general public rather than just contacts or suspected cases, the proportion of asymptomatic individuals among infected persons was found to be as high as one in two.
Nonetheless, Icelandic health authorities noted that since this testing project was conducted on volunteers, there may be bias in the composition of the sample population.
As of 11 a.m. Korean time on the 2nd, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US, Iceland has reported 1,220 confirmed COVID-19 cases and only 2 deaths.
Unlike other European countries, Iceland has not taken drastic measures such as closing borders or imposing movement restrictions.
Instead, it has banned events with more than 100 people, closed middle and high schools, actively implemented self-quarantine policies, and is working hard to trace the movements of confirmed cases.
CNN reported, "Comprehensive testing is the key to controlling COVID-19 and provides a more accurate picture of how the virus spreads, according to experts."
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