[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A study has found that one patient infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can infect more than half of their family members within a week.
On the 30th (local time), foreign media cited the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (MMWR) published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reporting that an initial confirmed case can infect 53% of family members within 7 days.
The research team analyzed data related to household transmission from 101 primary infected individuals and their 191 household members in Nashville, Tennessee, and Marshfield, Wisconsin, between April and September.
By collecting daily swab samples from the noses and mouths of family members for 14 days, it was found that 53% of the family members were confirmed COVID-19 positive within 7 days.
Among these secondary infected individuals, 75% showed symptoms within 5 days.
The investigation revealed that when the confirmed patient was aged 12?17, the secondary transmission rate was 38%; for ages 18?49, it was 55%; and for those 50 and older, it was 62%, showing that the younger the confirmed patient, the lower the transmission rate.
The research team stated, "Less than half of the secondary infected individuals showed symptoms early on," adding, "There is a high possibility of COVID-19 spreading through asymptomatic infections, making self-quarantine all the more important."
They also emphasized, "Household infections occurred regardless of age," and reiterated, "Masks must be worn in shared family spaces."
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