Asymptomatic COVID-19 Carriers (5-5-20)

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Carriers (5-5-20)

Employees at triumph foods who tested positive for the coronavirusis --none of them were showing any outward signs of being sick -- health experts call them a- symptomatic -- but it's a word that one area physician is challenging.

Here's kq2's madeline mcclaine to explain.

Asymptomatic covid-19 carriers -- a buzzy phrase we've been hearing a lot lately.state and local officials say hundreds of people tested positive for covid-19 at a pork plant in st.

Joseph -- and they were asymptomatic words symptom free.dana hawkinson, md, medical director of infection prevention and control: "it's a very small amount of patients maybe 2 percent or less are asymptomatic."dr. dana hawkinson is the director of infection prevention and control for ku med.he says rather than asymptomatic -- they should probably be called presymptomatic.dana hawkinson, md, medical director of infection prevention and control: you can spread the virus at least one to two days prior to having any symptoms. in addition there was a recent publication of the the new england journal of medicine, that showed you can actually detect virus up to six days before having any symptoms."in short -- a majority of the hundreds of triumph foods employees that tested positive for covid-19 -- may not have had symptoms when they got tested have them now.dana hawkinson, md, medical director of infection prevention and control: we anticipate a majority of patients will have symptoms even if mild."the doctor says because scientist and researchers are still learning about covid-19 symptoms and spread makes it difficult for public health officials..debra bradley, st.

Joseph health dept.: "you know a runny nose could mean covid but it could mean allergies so it's just kind of hard to determine but if you have symptoms we would prefer you air on the side of caution."

And airing on the side of caution is critical right now -- st.

Joseph's chief health officer says triumph has at least 412 positive cases bradley, st.

Joseph health department: it's not just in the packing plants that people are positive and asymptomatic, they are going to be everywhere...it's a scary thought knowing it's everywhere -- and you could even be an unknowing carrier.

Dana hawkinson, md, medical director of infection prevention and control: that's one of the reasons that you use a face mask, even if it's a cloth face mask, to really try to reduce the spread that you may have it to other people who don't have it.

Public health officials add that in addition to wearing a face mask -- you can limit your risk of exposure -- wash your hands, cover your cough, keep your distance... and stay home as much as