Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

The number of people who have had COVID-19 may well be far higher than official statistics in part because of the large numbers infected who have never had any symptoms, according to a study of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Health Department of Berlin.

The intensive study of a select number of people in the capital found that among those tested in Germany’s capital, every fifth person had the antibodies, indicating that they had been infected, but never had any symptoms.

The collaboration of the Robert Koch Institute and the Health Department of Berlin discovered that one out of five cases were at some stage positive because of the presence of antibodies but that they never had symptoms.

The team of scientists selected about 2,200 people for throat swab and blood samples, between November 17th and December 5th.

Additionally, the volunteers were questioned about whether they experienced symptoms.

About one percent of the participants of the research in contrast had an acute infection and clear symptoms at the time of the examination.

In general, 20 percent of the people with positive antibody detection had never felt any health-related changes, while 80 percent of those who recovered admitted they felt at least one of the classic symptoms, such as fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, cough, sore throat, odour and taste disorders.

The health experts that prepared the study said that based on results, they believe that 2.2 times more people have been infected in the capital as a whole than is currently being reported.

RKI President Prof. Lothar Wieler revealed additionally that almost half of the people who were tested positive for COVID-19 before the start of the study had no antibodies detected. However, that does not exclude them from being immune as these might still be formed later.

He then added: “The immune protection after a COVID-19 infection is not as high as with other viruses.”

He believes this is the main reason why people who have already gone through the virus also have to be vaccinated.

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