An Australian COVID-19 Patient Became Infectious In One Day, Nobody Knows How

Australian authorities say a COVID-19 patient reportedly became infectious in less than a day since contracting the disease, as per a report in AP.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd did not provide details of how the patient was infected in New South Wales state or if anyone else was infected before the diagnosis.

AP

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the country's peak decision-making body for public health emergency, reported such a short incubation was ¡°unusual," but ¡°not implausible," Kidd said.

People usually develop symptoms within five to seven days but may become infectious a day or two before their symptoms develop, Kidd said.

AP

A person becoming infectious within 24 hours was unlikely to be evidence of the virus changing, Kidd said. It more likely reflected differences in individual reactions to the virus, he said.

Australia has nearly 11,000 cases and over 100 deaths while more than 8000 have recovered.

AP

Worldwide the tally of cases is closing in on 14 million while fatalities are almost 600,000 and over 81 lakh recoveries.