Publication: Asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at a workplace in bangkok metropolitan region, Thailand
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Issued Date
2021-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
26975718
01251562
01251562
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85110643687
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.52, No.1 (2021), 56-63
Suggested Citation
Anek Mungomklang, Somrak Sirikhetkon, Rujira Tragoolpua, Sirima Thanun, Thanawan Gabbhirom, Pilaipan Puthavathana, Hatairat Lerdsamran, Chavachol Sethaudom, Nopporn Apiwattanakul, Sujittra Chaisavaneeyakorn Asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at a workplace in bangkok metropolitan region, Thailand. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.52, No.1 (2021), 56-63. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/78683
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Title
Asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) at a workplace in bangkok metropolitan region, Thailand
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic infection to multi-organ system failure. Patients with COVID-19 generally spread the virus during the symptomatic phase. However, data on COVID-19 transmission from patients who did not develop symptoms in the whole course of illness is still limited. The study described an outbreak consisting of six asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in an office workplace, which was not related to family transmission or healthcare settings. The first asymptomatic COVID-19 case was identified by positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR assay during an active surveillance in the community. Close contact tracing among coworkers of the index case identified five other asymptomatic positive nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR COVID-19 subjects. SARS-CoV-2 serology assays identified another 15 nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR negative asymptomatic coworkers on the same floor as the six infected cases. No officer workers on different floors were SARS-CoV-2 positive by serology assays and no family members of the first six asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were positive by nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR assay. The findings highlight the importance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from asymptomatic patients in a non-healthcare setting and of serology testing in risk individuals with negative nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay results.