Why one in five people are asymptomatic with COVID-19

Dr Lindsay Broadbent (PhD)

One aspect of the pandemic that has fascinated both scientists and the public alike is how the infection affects people differently.

I’ve previously discussed the potential reasons some people have managed to avoid infection completely.

For those who have been infected, symptoms can range from a mild cold-like illness, to something resembling a flu, to severe respiratory distress and even death.

But about one in five people are thought to be asymptomatic with COVID.