Questions from the audience: When is a person infected with coronavirus contagious?

The danger of silent covid transmitters-19 1:09

(CNN Spanish) - As every Friday, Dr. Elmer Huerta answers the questions he receives from our audience through Twitter.

In this episode, we clarify doubts about molecular tests, about why funerals are performed with fewer people, about whether the vaccine will cure the virus or not, the consequences of the virus in asymptomatic patients, among other questions.

You can listen to this episode on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, or read the transcript below.

Hello, I am Dr. Elmer Huerta and this is your daily dose of information about the new coronavirus, information that we hope will be useful to take care of your health and that of your family.

Today we will answer some of the questions that have been asked on our Twitter account @DrHuerta.

@drhuerta in my town they are using amantadine as a medicine against covid 19 and they argue that it is having a lot of success, are there serious studies on it?

- Mr. brightside (@hugo_lerma) July 8, 2020

Good question. While it is true that several antiviral drugs are being tested, none have yet been shown to be curative against the new coronavirus.

Amantadine, long used against the flu, is one of several antivirals being tested.

@drhuerta asks, it may be possible that some people in December, January, and February already had the virus, but since they did not know so much, did they not notice? Why not all people hit to require hospitalization, right? And if so, have they already produced defenses? Thank you.

- Pikin Vivas (@PikinVivas) July 9, 2020

Interesting Pikin question. If possible.

Studies in several countries have revealed that cases of the disease already existed a month before the announcement of the first official case.

This is a consequence of the globalized world in which we live, in which a plane can take us to the other side of the world in 24 hours, which, surely, caused the virus to quickly leave China for other countries.

Dr. Huerta, and if you are an administrative officer who works in the health sector, but does not have contact with the public, do you recommend using cloth or N95 or equivalent?

- Gisella Vilchez (@Gigivilc) July 9, 2020

Hello Gisella, if the person who works in a hospital does not have contact with patients, and is adequately distanced from other coworkers, he does not need an N95 mask, which is reserved for health professionals who see patients and are directly exposed to the virus.

@drhuerta is it true that one of the consequences of having had COVID is deficiencies in the nervous system, including brain problems?

- 👉🇵🇪 𝕲𝖑𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖉𝖔𝖗 🇵🇪👈 (@ gladiator20001) July 9, 2020

Good question Gladiator. Yes, it seems to be true that people who pass the infection may be left with symptoms related to the nervous system. What we don't know yet is how long they will last.

Let us remember that the new coronavirus causes a multisystemic disease, that is, it can compromise various organ systems in humans.

Doctor has released a News in the trade here in Lima where he reports that the WHO recognizes the transmission of covid 19 by air. What could you tell us about it. Thank you

- A Pause Women (@UnaPausaMujeres) July 9, 2020

After more than 200 experts addressed an open letter to WHO, asking it to acknowledge that it is possible that the virus may remain in the air in closed spaces and be a route of transmission, the World Health Organization acknowledged that it is possible make that true.

It is very important to clarify that when it is said that the virus is spread through the air, it should always be clarified that it is the air from closed spaces, not from open spaces such as a street, a square, a park or the beach.

@drhuerta my mother 73 years old and my son 16 were positive for COVID-19, they are asymptomatic. What damage can they have if they do not have medical attention?

- silvia chaires (@ChairesSilvia) July 9, 2020

Good question, Silvia. We know very little about what happens to the health of people infected with the new coronavirus and are asymptomatic.

As we mentioned in a previous episode, there are some reports that they could develop lung lesions, but that is not corroborated. We will have to wait for more investigations to answer your question.

A doctor consultation, if a person acquires the virus and is asymptomatic, after 20 days can he continue to spread?

- Carlos Ancaya (@ Caa20100) July 9, 2020

Hi Carlos, it has been seen that an asymptomatic person can spread an average of 19 days after becoming infected.

The problem is that -due to the absence of symptoms- it is very difficult to know when it was infected. The practical thing is that, because we do not know who is infected and who is not, we must all protect ourselves with a mask and social distance.

@drhuerta What is the true importance of the use of eye protectors (lenses) to avoid contagion? If the answer is affirmative, why is the use of the mask not encouraged? Thank you very much.

- Andres Mencias (@and_mencias) July 9, 2020

In healthcare workers, it has been shown that glasses can protect them from coronavirus infection. The same has not been studied in the general population.

Its use could be indicated in places where there are many people, and these do not keep the social distance.

@drhuerta a person can become infected if they puncture with a needle used with a patient with covid-19

- ALEXAS (@ private7778) July 8, 2020

No Alexas, until now it has not been shown that this virus is transmitted by needle puncture, open wounds, or by the oral or sexual route.

Until now it is known that it is a virus of respiratory contagion from person to person and by touching contaminated objects and bringing the virus to the mouth, nose or eyes.

Because if we are doing extreme cleaning, respecting the distance and going out the least at home, I have a cold. I always thought that the cold was contagious. How to know if it is not covid?

- Olinda (@Odicita) July 8, 2020

Excellent question Olinda. You may not have a cold, but rather an allergy or other respiratory problem. If you took good care of the coronavirus, there should also be no flu or cold.

Is it my idea or have the normal flu this year decreased a lot?, In my case, in the 1st semester they always always give me two very strong flu, the kind that knock one down, but this year it has not given me a single cold. @ZulmaCucunuba @drhuerta @ jfbermudez1 @INSColombia

- Wilson Subiria P. (@WilsonSubiria) July 8, 2020

Thanks for such a good question Wilson. It is related to Olinda's previous one. You are right, if we follow the recommendations not to get infected with the coronavirus, we should not catch flu and colds either.

The mode of transmission is the same for all three infections.

@drhuerta my most respected greetings, a question at what time a person infected with covid19 begins to infect others?

- Brassfieldyaricel@gmail.com (@ Brassfieldyari2) July 8, 2020

An infected person starts to spread two to three days before the symptoms appear and continues to do so until approximately 10 days after the symptoms disappear.

@drhuerta I read that a deceased with Coronavirus at three hours the virus also dies. That is true?
If that is true, because families are not allowed to bury their deceased in a way that they did before.

- LEONID (@PALCANALES) July 8, 2020

Hi Leonid. Actually, the WHO recommends the burial or cremation of the corpse. What is not allowed, due to the fear of contagion, are funerals like the ones we used to have with tens or hundreds of people together in one place.

A funeral with few people, all with masks and widely spaced is allowed.

@OPSOMSPeru Hello, I had a question today and I hope that my query is not taken badly. Vaccines being investigated to combat #COVID ー 19 will either prevent the disease or cure those who are already infected, or perhaps attack both scenarios. @drhuerta @opsoms

- Andrés Monteagudo (@guibukala) July 8, 2020

Excellent question Andrés. Vaccines protect an uninfected person, so that they do not develop an infection in case they get it. Those who are already infected may receive antibody treatments, which some media call vaccines, but they are actually immunotherapy treatments.

@drhuerta Thank you very much for all your information is excellent. Today I talk about what was happening with the virus and closed spaces.
Is it wise to travel by plane being a closed space? Thank you.

- Liliana Llambes (@LilianaLlambes) July 7, 2020

Traveling in a transport vehicle, including airplanes, is considered a risky activity. That is why experts recommend that trips should be made in very necessary cases.

@drhuerta doctor i have a question the rapid tests are 100% effective or is the pcr only necessary?

- abrahamhernandezvoz (@abrahaam_musica) July 7, 2020

Each test has its usefulness Abraham. The molecular one detects the virus and the fast ones, the antibodies produced as a result of the infection.

Knowing that both types of tests can give false results, what is really important is the evaluation of the doctor, who determines if the picture may or may not correspond to covid-19.

@drhuerta good night dr like this, my uncle is a chronic kidney patient and he tested positive for covid but he is asymptomatic for 12 days since they tested him, how should I handle him and the family. Thank you

- Katty ching (@ ch_12k) July 7, 2020

Your uncle may be an infected but asymptomatic person. If you have symptoms, you should do so within 14 days after contact. It should be isolated in the house so that it does not infect others and, of course, they should talk to their doctor.

Remember that 80% of infected people, regardless of their health problems, may be asymptomatic or present very mild symptoms.

DOCTOR @drhuerta I WANT YOU TO CLEAR A DOUBT, THE WASHING OF THE MOUTH HAS THE SAME EFFECT AS THAT OF THE HANDS. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

- Luis Miguel (@ adrmatmic320) July 6, 2020

Hand washing has been shown to prevent many diseases. Mouthwash is a good habit, but it has not been shown that it can prevent infection with the new coronavirus, which occurs mainly through the nose and not through the mouth.

Send me your questions on Twitter, we will try to answer them in our next episodes. You can find me at @DrHuerta.

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And for the most up-to-date information, you can always go to CNNEspanol.com. Thanks for your attention.

If you have any questions, you can send them to Dr. Elmer Huerta through Twitter. You can also go to CNNE.com/coronaviruspodcast for all the episodes of our podcast “Coronavirus: Reality vs. fiction".

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