A recent study conducted by the University of Göttingen has revealed that only a fraction of all Covid-19 infections are being detected. This is due to a lack of testing, which could potentially be replaced by trained medical diagnosis dogs, as well as the fact that young people without pre-existing conditions often experience asymptomatic infections. However, the exact percentage of asymptomatic cases is still unknown due to limited studies. The Heinsberg study conducted by the University Hospital Bonn, which was published as a preprint without peer review, found that 22% of Covid-19 infections were asymptomatic. However, a study by scientists from the University of Padua and another by researchers from Wuhan found much higher percentages of asymptomatic cases.

The University of Padua study found that 43% of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed no symptoms, while the Wuhan study found that 43% of their study participants had asymptomatic infections. Young adults and women were found to have the highest percentage of asymptomatic cases, with 66% of cases occurring in this group according to the Chinese researchers. The Macquarie University study of the Diamond Princess cruise ship found that 81% of those infected showed no symptoms. These findings suggest that asymptomatic cases are much more common than previously thought, highlighting the importance of testing and protective measures such as social distancing and wearing masks.

It is important to note that false-positive cases may also be present due to limited retesting. However, the overall message is clear: asymptomatic cases are likely much more prevalent than previously believed. This underscores the need for effective testing methods to detect new infection clusters, such as a new rapid test that can detect the virus in wastewater. Additionally, protective measures such as social distancing and wearing masks can help prevent the spread of the virus, especially in asymptomatic cases where individuals may unknowingly be carriers.

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