Coronavirus antibody testing shows LA County outbreak is up to 55 times bigger than reported cases
We may find that the infection rate is much higher than previously reported or anticipated. The disease may have been freely circulating in certain states since late November or early December 2019. The death rate may be much lower than thought, more in line with a bad flu.
The Covid-19 outbreak in Los Angeles County could be up to 55 times bigger than the number of confirmed cases, according to new research from the University of Southern California and the LA Department of Public Health.
The data, if correct, would mean that the county’s fatality rate is lower than originally thought.
With just 4% of the population infected with the disease, LA County is still very early in the epidemic, said USC professor Neeraj Sood, who led the study.
