The latest research progress in asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has no perceptible clinical symptoms and signs, and it is not easy to be detected. The transmission of the virus carried by asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients is insidious, which brings great challenges to the control of the epidemic. Due to the length of the incubation period, some studies have failed to distinguish between asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections, resulting in a higher proportion of asymptomatic infections. This article reviews the latest research progress of characteristics, transmission, detection and control of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infection.