A pilot study revealed that almost one-third of 200 people in Massachusetts tested for coronavirus antibodies came up positive.
Researchers collected drops of blood from residents in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and determined that 64 people tested positive out of 200 for antibodies linked to COVID-19.
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“We’ve long thought that the reported numbers are vastly under-counting what the actual infection is,” Chelsea’s City Manager Thomas Ambrosino told the Boston Globe. “Those reported numbers are based on positive COVID-19 tests, and we’re all aware that a very, very small percentage of people in Chelsea and everywhere are getting COVID-19 tests.”
“Still, it’s kind of sobering that 30% of a random group of 200 people that are showing no symptoms are, in fact, infected. It’s all the more reason for everyone to be practicing physical distancing,” he added.
Chelsea, a town located just north of Boston, had the state’s highest rate of coronavirus infections at 1,900 cases per 100,000 residents.
“I think it’s both good news and bad news,” Dr. John Iafrate, the study’s chief investigator, said. “The bad news is that there’s a raging epidemic in Chelsea, and many people walking on the street don’t know that they’re carrying the virus and that they may be exposing uninfected individuals in their families.”
Massachusetts, a coronavirus hot spot, said virus cases increased by 1,970 Saturday, bringing the total to 36,372. Additionally, 156 new deaths were reported, totaling 1,560 overall.
