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I tested positive over the Christmas break via PCR with basically zero noticeable symptoms (I had a headache and a runny nose for half a day.) I only got tested out of a sense of due diligence for upcoming family visits.

I suspect that numbers in this wave are being VASTLY underreported not through any malfeasance, but by the fact that omicron has already run through a huge swath of the population more or less asymptomatically.

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what's the point of reporting asymptomatic cases, especially when there doesn't seem to be any distinction between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, just a total "cases" count? what are we missing out on by not knowing that thousands or millions of people would test positive, while not exhibiting any symptoms?

Well, I actually think it helps indicate how much a lower risk this variant is, for starters.

but if this clearly demonstrates that the risk is significantly reduced, then why test for it? I don't understand.

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