We could have avoided high mortality from COVID-19 'if more asymptomatic patients had been tested' - Medical University rector

The mortality from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) could have been essentially lower in Armenia if more latent cases showing no symptoms had been timely tested for the disease, the Yerevan State Medical University's (YMSU) rector said today.

In his speech at a public forum bringing together the YMSU faculty, Armen Muradyan highlighted the low number of patients turning to medical centers "under conditions of the officially registered 6% toll."

Addressing the repeatedly voiced comparisons with the H1N1 infection, Muradyan explained that it is different from seasonal flu in terms of both the more severe clinical characteristics and the higher degree of contagion. "As for the target groups, H1N1 affects more the younger age groups; hence the comparison is not correct," he noted.