Can contribute to more extensive Corona-Tests for the elimination of the Virus?

The identification and isolation of asymptomatic individuals helped in the elimination of the Coronavirus in a small Italian village. Since many of those Affected have no symptoms, but, nevertheless, significantly to the Transmission of the Virus contribute, be precautionary Tests on the Virus an effective step to curb Covid-19, reported an Italian expert in the journal “BMJ”.

The Team led by Professor Sergio Romagnani, University of Florence, stressed that most people who are infected with the new Coronavirus show no symptoms, but still be able to infect others. This was shown also in the case of the outbreak in a small Italian village, in which, after the Occurrence of the first cases in the entire population was tested. Through the Tests, it was possible to reduce the number of new infections dramatically, said Prof. Romagnani more.

Symptom-free Infected as a Carrier

In the village of Vo’Euganeo, with around 3000 inhabitants, 50 km West of Venice, were made after the appearance of the new corona virus, repeated RNA Tests to the entire population. In view of the results of Prof. Romagnani turned in an open letter to the authorities of the Tuscany Region and stressed that the vast majority (50-75 percent) of the Covid-19 infected people are asymptomatic, but a significant source of infection present.

Successful containment of the Virus

Through the comprehensive Corona-Tests and the isolation of all persons with a positive result (quarantine) the number of Covid-19-Sick in less than ten days from 88 to seven are reduced, reported Prof. Romagnani. “The percentage of the Infected, having no symptoms is very high, and (…) the isolation of asymptomati core is used for the control of the spread of the Virus and the Severity of the epidemic is essential,” says the Professor of clinical immunology more.

Medical personnel should be tested

The Italian doctor comes to the conclusion that the implementation of comprehensive Tests for the identification of asymptomatic cases is an important step in the containment of Covid-19. In particular, in the case of healthcare professionals such testing be offered so that the Virus will not unknowingly give to colleagues or patients. The new findings should be implemented in practice.

Currently, the medical personnel will not be tested in the Italian hospitals, if no symptoms are present, but this could be dangerous and the hospitals are running the risk to be to rates in zones with high infection, says Prof. Romagnani. Therefore, the Test should be considerably expanded and mandatory for medical personnel to be emphasized Romagnani.

Lack of test capacity as a bottleneck?

However, the Problem is that the test capacity is already at its limits and more comprehensive package of tests would therefore be difficult to implement in Germany currently. The extent to which the test capacity can be increased in the coming weeks, to be able to, if necessary, also the entire medical staff regularly test, remains open. However, given the findings from Italy, such a step seems to be urgently required. (fp)