We also don't know yet (or at least I don't) how easily asymptomatic people are able to transmit the infection, which is why I'm perplexed by this quote from the article.
> “With regard to COVID-19, we’re learning that stealth in the form of asymptomatic transmission is this adversary’s secret power,” said Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the Navy.
He says that they are contagious, but he doesn't say highly contagious (I know you're not the one who made that claim, I just wanted to clarify). I'm not sure if we know yet how contagious people without symptoms are, but it's most likely going to be less than a person with symptoms simply because they're no longer coughing.
Do you mind linking to the WHO source? Last I checked they said presymptomatic people are contagious.
It's why track and trace is so important and difficult. People are contagious after 3 days but first show symptoms clustered around 5 days. So we need to contact trace their last week or so. A lot of western governments have been unable to do this so they have decided to hope presymptomatic people are not contagious and just ask symptomatic people to self isolate.
Another factor is what is symptomatic. I had a weird tightness in my chest 2 days before my fever and a tickle in my throat 1 day before. Breathing issues started 4 days after fever. I had no clue the tightness was covid...
> “With regard to COVID-19, we’re learning that stealth in the form of asymptomatic transmission is this adversary’s secret power,” said Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the Navy.