The Daily

A Missed Warning About Silent Coronavirus Infections

Jul 9, 2020

Matt Apuzzo, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, joins Dr. Camilla Rothe, an infectious disease specialist, to discuss the alarming early detection of coronavirus in Germany. They highlight the missed warnings about asymptomatic spread, emphasizing the challenges faced in conveying this critical information. The conversation critiques how the World Health Organization handled early data, navigating public confusion surrounding silent infections and their implications for controlling the pandemic. The discussion reveals the urgent need for better public health communication.

30:32

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Episode guests

Camilla Rothe

Matt Apuzzo

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Silent Threat: The First Covid Case in Germany

12min

Exploring Silent Infections and Surgical Innovations

4min

Navigating Asymptomatic Transmission

11min

Reflections on Decision-Making in Global Health

3min

Guidance on School Reopenings and Recent Supreme Court Ruling

3min

At the end of January, long before the world understood that seemingly healthy people could spread the coronavirus, a doctor in Germany tried to sound the alarm. Today, we look at why that warning was unwelcome.

Guests: Matt Apuzzo, an investigative reporter for The New York Times based in Brussels.

Dr. Camilla Rothe, an infectious disease specialist at Munich University Hospital.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily

Background reading:

At the end of March, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that as many as 25 percent of those infected by the coronavirus may not show symptoms.
Some scientists have criticized the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying its statements and advice sometimes lag behind research.

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