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More People in the US Have Been Infected with COVID-19 Than Reported - CDC
Study

VOA News

   Data released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
   Prevention says the actual number of coronavirus infections in some
   parts of the United States is anywhere between two to 13 times higher
   than what has been officially reported.

   The CDC based its conclusions on blood samples collected from people
   who were given routine clinical tests across 10 geographic regions,
   including New York City, south Florida, Missouri and the western states
   of Utah and Washington. In Missouri, for example, the estimated number
   of actual infections was 13 times higher than the number of confirmed
   cases, while in Utah, the actual number was at least twice as high.

   The authors of the study, which was also published on the website of
   JAMA Internal Medicine, said many infected people did not seek medical
   care or get tested because they likely had mild symptoms or none at
   all, and likely spread the virus among the population. At least 40% of
   people who are infected do not develop symptoms.

   The CDC researchers also found that only a small number of people in
   many parts of the United States were carrying the coronavirus
   antibodies as of late May, indicating that most of the population
   remains highly at risk of infection.

   In New York City, the initial U.S. epicenter for the COVID-19 pandemic,
   nearly 24% had the antibodies for the disease, well below the 60%
   threshold scientists say is needed to achieve herd immunity, the point
   at which enough people would be immune to the coronavirus.

   The numbers were far lower in other parts of the country --
   Philadelphia was at 3.6%, Missouri was 2.8%, and Utah was just 1.1%.

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