Are coronavirus cases without symptoms real?

The virus has been found in people who never developed symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers estimate that at least a third of people who become infected with the coronavirus never experience symptoms. People infected with COVID-19 can also spread the virus before they develop symptoms, experts say.

In fact, asymptomatic COVID-19 infections are a key feature of the virus, according to the CDC and several experts consulted by The Associated Press.

“We know that asymptomatic infections occur based on at least two facts,” said Jade Fulce, public affairs specialist at the CDC. First, she said, the “virus has been isolated by culture from persons who have tested positive but never develop symptoms.” Second, she said, “there are well documented cases of infected persons who are asymptomatic who have transmitted infection.”