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Published on: Jul 07, 2020
1 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Asymptomatic Carriers Of COVID

Why Asymptomatic carriers of COVID are as dangerous as symptomatic patients

Many countries have now begun enforcing masks for everyone to wear when out in public, in enclosed spaces, or on public transport. There is good evidence to support these measures, but unfortunately, some still show resistance to the idea. Whilst some reasons put forward are non-sensical (masks do not cause any noticeable or measurable decrease in oxygen delivery to the body), other people feel like they shouldn’t wear a mask because they do not have symptoms of COVID. And thus would not spread anything. Here we look at a recent publication in Nature, one of the most esteemed peer-reviewed scientific journals in the world, and what it shows us about the transmission of COVID in a population.

This study by Lavezzo et al looked at the suppression of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the Italian municipality of Vo’. This municipality is 50 kilometers west of Venice with a population of just 3,416 people. It experienced its first casualty of COVID on the 21st of February, after which it underwent lockdown for 14 days. During this time data was collected on the clinical presentation and hospitalization of COVID patients, as well as other citizens through the contact tracing network.

In total 2,812 residents were tested in late February, with another 2,343 tests performed two weeks later at the end of lockdown. Nasal and throat swabs were taken to identify infected individuals. The study found only 2.6% of people were positive for COVID at the start of lockdown, which reduced to 1.2% two weeks later.

Out of this infected population, 42.5% were asymptomatic. They had no symptoms at the time of swab testing nor did they develop symptoms afterwards. When the viral load was measured between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, there was little difference.

Evidence has pointed to a large asymptomatic population, and previous studies have shown it to be as high as 50% in some cases. Many would assume if a patient has no symptoms then they must have fought the infection before it became an issue, or had a very low viral load and therefore were not likely to spread it. This study shows it is simply not true. Asymptomatic carriers of COVID are likely to contribute to the transmission and spread of COVID amongst the population.

If you are asymptomatic you have as high a viral load as someone who is symptomatic. But there is no way to tell without a swab. You have as much of a potential to spread the infection to the vulnerable. Even in people who became symptomatic the height of transmission was found to be before the patient showed any symptoms.

So what does this mean? If you have COVID you are likely to spread it before you show any symptoms or any symptoms at all. We know masks are effective at significantly reducing the spread of COVID, by catching the water droplets that carry the SARS-CoV-2 Virus. Now that shops and public places are re-opening, the risk of spread is high.

Wear a mask. Stop the spread.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2488-1_reference.pdf suppression of a SARS article

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Corporate Health Checkup Packages India: How SecondMedic Is Transforming Workplace Wellness

A healthy workforce isn’t just an HR benefit - it’s a strategic business asset.
With rising lifestyle diseases, stress, and sedentary habits, companies in India are increasingly prioritizing corporate health checkup packages to protect employee well-being and boost workplace productivity.

According to FICCI-EY (2024), companies that invest in preventive health programs see:

27% reduction in sick leaves
22% boost in workforce productivity
35–40% lower long-term hospitalization costs

As organizations embrace digital transformation, SecondMedic has emerged as a leading provider of AI-driven, preventive corporate health solutions across India.

The Growing Need for Corporate Health Checkups in India

Modern workplaces face rising incidences of:

Hypertension
Obesity
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Mental stress
Vitamin deficiencies

The ICMR 2024 Study shows that 60% of corporate employees in India fall into “high-risk” for lifestyle diseases due to long working hours and low physical activity.

Preventive screenings are no longer optional - they are essential.

What Are Corporate Health Checkup Packages?

Corporate health packages are structured preventive medical programs covering:

Vital body parameters
Blood tests
Lifestyle disease markers
Heart and organ health
Stress & mental well-being
Doctor consultations

SecondMedic makes these programs smarter through AI health analytics and digital records.

Why Companies Choose SecondMedic

AI-Enabled Health Risk Profiling

SecondMedic uses predictive algorithms to identify high-risk employees early.

Nationwide Coverage

On-site screening camps and home sample collection across all major Indian cities.

Digital Health Dashboards

HR teams receive anonymized workforce health insights.

Personalized Care for Employees

Nutrition, stress management, fitness plans, and specialist consultations.

Compliance & Data Security

ABDM-grade privacy and encrypted health records.

What’s Included in SecondMedic’s Corporate Health Packages?

A typical package includes:

1. Blood Investigations

Complete Blood Count
Fasting & Postprandial Blood Sugar
Lipid Profile
Thyroid Panel
Liver & Kidney Function Tests
Vitamin D & B12

2. Cardiac & Organ Exams

Resting ECG
Blood Pressure & Pulse
BMI & Body Composition Analysis

3. Mental Well-Being Assessment

Stress and sleep quality screening.

4. Doctor Consultation

A physician reviews reports and recommends action steps.

5. AI-Based Health Report

Predictive insights on metabolic, cardiac, and lifestyle risks.

6. Nutrition & Wellness Coaching

Condition-based diet and fitness guidance.

SecondMedic customizes plans based on company size, employee demographics, and industry.

On-Site Corporate Health Camps

SecondMedic conducts professional, fully equipped health camps at office locations, including:

Sample collection booths
Doctor screening stations
Body composition testing
Mental well-being kiosks
Instant digital report linking to an employee’s profile

This ensures convenience and high participation rates.

Remote & Work-From-Home Employee Support

SecondMedic also covers remote teams through:

Home sample collection
Telemedicine consultations
Digital health reports
App-based wellness tracking

Perfect for hybrid and distributed workforces.

Benefits for Employers

Early Risk Detection

Identify diabetes, hypertension, and heart risks before they escalate.

Lower Healthcare Costs

Reduced insurance claims and hospitalization.

Higher Productivity

Healthy employees perform better and take fewer sick days.

Improved Workplace Culture

Employees appreciate care-driven corporate policies.

Data-Driven HR Decisions

AI dashboards help companies plan annual wellness budgets intelligently.

Benefits for Employees

Know their health risks early
Receive expert medical guidance
Access personalized diet/fitness plans
Better energy, sleep, and work performance
Convenient checkups without taking leave

Corporate Wellness Market in India: Growth Trends

As per IMARC Group (2025):

Corporate wellness market in India will reach USD 3.1 billion by 2028
62% of Indian companies plan to increase their wellness budgets
Preventive diagnostics and mental health are top priorities

SecondMedic’s technology-first wellness programs align perfectly with these industry trends.

AI in Corporate Healthcare: The SecondMedic Advantage

SecondMedic integrates AI across the corporate wellness lifecycle:

Workforce risk scoring
Lifestyle disease prediction
Personalized intervention mapping
Remote monitoring
Automated follow-ups

AI converts employee health data into actionable insights for HR and leadership teams.

Challenges in Corporate Wellness - And How SecondMedic Solves Them

Challenge	Solution by SecondMedic
Low participation	On-site camps + flexible timings
Scattered employee locations	Home sample collection nationwide
Generic plans	Personalized diet/fitness programs
Data privacy concerns	ABDM-compliant encryption
Poor follow-ups	Automated reminders + AI alerts

Conclusion

Healthy employees are an investment, not an expense.
SecondMedic’s Corporate Health Checkup Packages offer organizations a powerful blend of diagnostics, AI analytics, and preventive care - helping build a stronger, more resilient workforce.

Whether you’re a startup or a large enterprise, SecondMedic brings world-class corporate healthcare directly to your team.

Book your Corporate Health Checkup Package at www.secondmedic.com

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