Statement
There is no evidence to support government advice to “act like you have it”. To spread the virus, a viral load is needed. A light viral load which is not enough to spread a disease will be present in someone who is pre-symptomatic, i.e. up to two days before symptoms present. A heavy viral load is present in those with symptoms i.e. a person will already have COVID-19.
The idea of asymptomatic spread originated in the report of a Chinese woman visiting Europe on business in late 2019 and becoming the first asymptomatic ‘super-spreader’. However, investigation revealed that the woman was taking medication i.e. she had symptoms.
On 7 June 2020, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, told a press conference that “from the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual.” She added for emphasis: “It’s very rare.”