A landmark study from China indicates that COVID-19 patients can remain asymptomatic for over three weeks. Pending international verification, experts also warn of contamination risks from wastewater.
Published on MedRxiv on February 9, 2020, this is the largest study to date on COVID-19 patients. Led by renowned epidemiologist Dr. Zhong Nanshan under China's National Health Commission, it involved 37 researchers and data from approximately 1,100 patients across 31 provinces and 552 hospitals.
Findings reveal a median incubation period of 3 days, down from prior estimates of 5.2 days. Crucially, the maximum period reached 24 days. While not yet independently verified, this could prompt reevaluation of standard 14-day quarantines.
Building on recent research, this study notes the virus in stool from 4 of 62 patients and in the digestive tract, saliva, and urine of others. This underscores a real threat from wastewater, especially via toilet flushing into sewers and potential local water sources.
Flushing with the lid down is advised to prevent aerosolized virus particles enabling airborne transmission. The virus's presence in the gut highlights its adaptability beyond the respiratory system, with high intestinal loads explaining diarrhea in some cases.
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