Laurence Dollimore
MORE than half of people infected with COVID-19 in Malaga province are asymptomatic, experts have warned.
While it’s good news for those who carry none of the signs of the disease, such as a fever, cough, loss of smell and taste or tiredness, the high rate of asymptomatic sufferers can dramatically increase the transmission of the disease.
“The fact that more than half of COVID cases are asymptomatic in the province of Malaga is tremendously dangerous, since the lack of symptoms makes the virus more easily transmitted,” experts told Diario Sur.
People who show no symptoms are leading as normal lives as possible and tend to not be self-isolating.
Experts said they did not want to place blame on asymptomatic carriers as they are not breaking any laws, but specified that their interaction or the sharing of spaces with non-infected people naturally creates a higher risk of transmission.
Speaking to Diario Sur, health sources stressed it is fundamental to respect the coronavirus restrictions in place, such as the use of a mask, indoors and outdoors, maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other people (at least 1.5 metres) and washing your hands often and making sure indoor areas are ventilated.
“Prudence is key to curbing infections,” the experts said, adding that people should generally avoid going outside unless it is to go to the doctors or for an urgent reason.
Additionally, they warned that in this second wave of the pandemic, the number of symptomatic cases is greater than in the first and that many of those are young people.
They also advised that if there are to be meet ups between friends and families, they are better done so outside, for example on a restaurant terrace, which is naturally well ventilated.
Meeting in small indoor spaces increases the risk of transmission.
The warmer temperatures and more time spent outside by those in Malaga partly explains how the province has managed to fare better than other areas during the second wave, experts said.
