32% of COVID-19 cases in Ernakulam asymptomatic: Officials

Kochi, May 4 () Thirty-two per cent of the COVID-19patients treated at hospitals in Ernakulam district in Keralawere asymptomatic, official statistics showed on Monday withdoctors voicing concern over the trend, saying such silentinfections can lead to spread of the contagion.

The statistics were released by the District SurveillanceTeam here on Monday, days after Ernakulam was declared "GreenZone" by the central government. According to the team, eight out of 25 people who weretreated for COVID-19 in Ernakulam district were asymptomatic. Doctors warned that undiagnosed asymptomatic infection wasdangerous as it may cause spread of virus and complicateefforts to bring it under control.

Ernakulam Government Medical College Hospital ResidentMedical Officer Dr Ganesh Mohan said the ability of the novelcoronavirus to be transmitted by persons with no symptoms wasa major factor for the its spread. The last patient under treatment for novel coronavirus inErnakulam was discharged last week, making the districtCOVID-19 free. Seven British nationals were treated at the hospital herefor novel coronavirus but only one among was symptomatic toCOVID-19, officials said. "Asymptomatic carrier state is dangerous because no onedoubts about such persons' health conditions. If there is anasymptomatic carrier, the patient himself will not suspectthat he is sick and he will go on with his daily activitiesand he will spread the disease", Dr Mohan told . He said asymptomatic carriers should be a focus fordisease prevention. TGBVS VS