A small analysis of 78 COVID-19 patients in China revealed as many as 40% of patients may be asymptomatic.<br />COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and is at pandemic levels worldwide.<br />Although patients with milder, asymptomatic COVID-19 may suffer less damage to their immune systems, they may still be contagious.<br />However, the authors concluded the patients would be contagious for less time than those with more serious illness.<br />Asymptomatic patients had fewer "fluctuations" in virus testing findings over the study period than those with symptoms.<br />This suggests those with milder illness have more "stable" levels of virus while they're sick.<br />In contrast, more seriously ill patients see higher or lower amounts of the virus in their system as the disease progresses.
