coronavirus testing in Beijing
coronavirus testing in BeijingReuters

The World Health Organization (WHO) released statistics Tuesday estimating that as many of 40% of coronavirus patients contracted the disease from an asymptomatic carrier.

According to the WHO, a minority of 16% of people who contract the coronavirus are asymptomatic, but they infect others at a higher rate than those who become ill from the disease.

The WHO appeared to backtrack from its assertions yesterday that asymptomatic rarely spread the coronavirus to others.

WHO technical lead for coronavirus response Maria Van Kerkhove stated Monday that "from the data we have, it still seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual."

Kerkhove said that governments should focus on identifying people who display symptoms of the coronavirus and putting those who come in contact with them into isolation.