Even with strict lockdowns and social distancing measures, countries across the world are struggling to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. This highly infectious disease has already resulted in millions of deaths globally and continues to wreak havoc across the globe. As the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) continues to evolve, we are learning more about the virus with each passing day. Initially, the virus was thought to spread only when the infected person displayed symptoms, but recent studies have certainly proved otherwise. So, while everyone is on guard about social distancing and are avoiding contact with anyone displaying flu-like symptoms what about the asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus? As per the recent reports, there is strong evidence that coronavirus can be spread by silent spreaders as well. For the uninitiated, silent spreaders are the people who are infected with coronavirus but show little to no symptoms of the disease. As a result, they go on with their daily lives, meeting friends, family members and strangers without realizing that they are spreading the virus. Classifying people based on their symptoms is not an exact science. You may not fit any one classification exactly or may it shift from mild to moderate symptoms or vice-versa during illness. With so many people that are affected, everyone may not fit perfectly into the simple groups of classification. If your symptoms are predominantly mild, with one or two moderate symptoms, you may be classified as one with mild to moderate symptoms. People with COVID-19 are classified broadly as follows:

Who is a silent carrier?There is recent evidence that COVID-19 can spread through silent carriers. These silent carriers or spreaders are infected with coronavirus but show little or no symptoms of the disease. As a result, these people carry on with their daily lives, meeting family and friends, going to work, and spreading the disease without their own knowledge. It appears that most asymptomatic carriers are healthy young adults and children. If you come to contact with people who are positive for COVID-19, you may be positive despite not showing any symptoms of the disease.Types of Silent CarriersThe terms that are used to classify the silent carriers are:Mildly symptomatic carriersPeople who display very mild symptoms like a mild cough or may just be feeling a little low come in this category. The virus mainly affects the upper respiratory tract and may cause mild cough or mild breathlessness on exertion. Your fever may not reach 100.4°F. You may lose your sense of smell, have mild headaches, or develop a runny nose. These symptoms usually last for seven to ten days. It has been seen that some people showing mild symptoms can rapidly deteriorate, more often among people in the high-risk group.Pre-symptomatic carriersSome people do not develop any symptoms for up to a week after contracting the disease. They may later experience cough, fever, or breathing difficulty.Asymptomatic arriersThese are people who do not show any signs or symptoms of the disease on contracting it for the entire duration of the incubation period. This can last for around 14 days. As a result, they end up transmitting the virus to a lot of people. This fuel the pandemic in a rapid and dangerous manner.Unusual symptoms to look out forSome people may develop symptoms that are not typical to COVID-19. These include symptoms such as loss of smell, loss of taste and diarrhea. This means that some of the people placed in the category of asymptomatic carriers could be shifted to the mildly symptomatic category keeping these symptoms in mind. Until these symptoms have been categorized, it is best to follow strict personal hygiene practices and Government protocols for quarantine and lockdown.What can you do?Always protect yourselfPractice hand and respiratory hygiene always. Always maintain 6 feet distance from other people, especially if someone is coughing or sneezing near you. If you live in an area with rampant malaria or dengue cases, do not ignore a high fever. Visit a hospital or clinic and avoid touching any surface or coming in close contact with other patients.If you ever find out that you have been in close contact with an asymptomatic carrierIt is essential that you should self-quarantine for fourteen days even if you are not showing any symptoms of the disease yourself. Close contact is when you live with someone or have been in settings of less than 1 meter or 6 feet distance from someone who has the disease. Always cover your face and mouth properly when outdoors and do not leave your house unless it is essential. Always maintain 6 feet distance from other people. You are more likely to infect others in the early stages of the disease when you have only mild symptoms, hence it is very important to self-isolate. People in the high-risk category (older adults and those above the age of 50 and have serious underlying medical conditions) need to take extra precautions. For more understanding and if you would like to know if you might be at risk, you can consult our medical specialists at eahomecare.in/medical