A big unanswered questions about COVID-19 is the true infection rate. How many people have already had it?
As testing ramps up, there are reports of random samples and/or antibody tests in many localities. But it's hard to keep track.
So if you have a data point, add it 👇.
As testing ramps up, there are reports of random samples and/or antibody tests in many localities. But it's hard to keep track.
So if you have a data point, add it 👇.
I'll start.
One widely reported study at the German epicenter in Heinsberg found that 14% of residents have antibodies.
The problem: It's unclear whether the test they used can distinguish between COVID-19 and common colds caused by other coronaviruses.
zeit.de/wissen/gesundh…
One widely reported study at the German epicenter in Heinsberg found that 14% of residents have antibodies.
The problem: It's unclear whether the test they used can distinguish between COVID-19 and common colds caused by other coronaviruses.
zeit.de/wissen/gesundh…
Some anecdotal evidence suggests that the true number of people who've already had COVID-19 may be much higher than widely assumed.
But this representative study of the Austrian population makes that unlikely. At present, far less than 1% is infected.
theguardian.com/world/2020/apr…
But this representative study of the Austrian population makes that unlikely. At present, far less than 1% is infected.
theguardian.com/world/2020/apr…
(To be clear, this is *not* an antibody test. Hopefully, we will have more representative studies with such tests soon. But unless there's a massive methodological flaw with this study, its findings undermine hopes that the fatality rate has been vastly overstated.)
