New Study Suggests Ways to Stop Coronavirus' Spread
2020-07-03
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1A recent study of coronavirus infections in Italy found that around 40 percent of cases showed no signs of infection, or symptoms.
2The findings suggest that asymptomatic cases are important in the spread of the virus.
3The study was led by scientists at Italy's Padua University and Imperial College London.
4The scientists looked at the Italian town of Vò.
5The town has about 3,200 people.
6It was put under quarantine for 14 days after having Italy's first COVID-19 death on February 21.
7An early, unedited version of the study was published in the scientific journal Nature on Monday.
8The scientists said they tested 85.9 percent and 71.5 percent of the population of Vo' at two different times.
9In the first part of the study, which was done around the time the town's quarantine started, researchers found 73 people were infected.
10That is about 2.6 percent of the population.
11In the second part of the study, which was done after the end of the quarantine, they found 29 people were infected.
12That is about 1.2 percent of the population.
13In both parts of the study, about 40 percent of those who were infected did not have symptoms at the time of testing.
14They also did not develop symptoms afterwards.
15In other words, they were asymptomatic.
16The study produced evidence that testing along with case isolation and community quarantines can stop local outbreaks quickly.
17Because all of the coronavirus cases found were quarantined, the researchers said, the disease was not able to spread quickly.
18Andrea Crisanti is a professor at Padua.
19Crisanti was one of the leaders of the project.
20"Despite 'silent' and widespread transmission, the disease can be controlled," Crisanti said.
21"Testing of all citizens, whether or not they have symptoms, provides a way to...prevent outbreaks getting out of hand."
22Crisanti has become well known in Italy for his support of widespread testing.
23Crisanti said the success of Vo's testing also guided wider public health policy in the Veneto Region, where it had "a tremendous impact on the course of the epidemic" there compared to other regions.
24I'm John Russell.
1A recent study of coronavirus infections in Italy found that around 40 percent of cases showed no signs of infection, or symptoms. The findings suggest that asymptomatic cases are important in the spread of the virus. 2The study was led by scientists at Italy's Padua University and Imperial College London. The scientists looked at the Italian town of Vò. The town has about 3,200 people. It was put under quarantine for 14 days after having Italy's first COVID-19 death on February 21. 3An early, unedited version of the study was published in the scientific journal Nature on Monday. 4The scientists said they tested 85.9 percent and 71.5 percent of the population of Vo' at two different times. 5In the first part of the study, which was done around the time the town's quarantine started, researchers found 73 people were infected. That is about 2.6 percent of the population. In the second part of the study, which was done after the end of the quarantine, they found 29 people were infected. That is about 1.2 percent of the population. 6In both parts of the study, about 40 percent of those who were infected did not have symptoms at the time of testing. They also did not develop symptoms afterwards. In other words, they were asymptomatic. 7The study produced evidence that testing along with case isolation and community quarantines can stop local outbreaks quickly. Because all of the coronavirus cases found were quarantined, the researchers said, the disease was not able to spread quickly. 8Andrea Crisanti is a professor at Padua. Crisanti was one of the leaders of the project. 9"Despite 'silent' and widespread transmission, the disease can be controlled," Crisanti said. "Testing of all citizens, whether or not they have symptoms, provides a way to...prevent outbreaks getting out of hand." 10Crisanti has become well known in Italy for his support of widespread testing. Crisanti said the success of Vo's testing also guided wider public health policy in the Veneto Region, where it had "a tremendous impact on the course of the epidemic" there compared to other regions. 11I'm John Russell. 12Kate Kelland reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 13_______________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15symptom - n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present 16asymptomatic - adj. medical: having or showing no symptoms of disease 17quarantine -n. a situation of being kept away from others to prevent the spread of a disease 18isolation - n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated 19transmission - n. the act or process by which something is spread or passed from one person or thing to another 20tremendous - adj. very large or great