A coronavirus antibody study in France determined that about 25% of participants were infected, with nine patients hospitalized and zero deaths.
The study, conducted between March 30 and April 4 in Oise, France, tested students, teachers, and staff at a high school and found antibodies present in 171 out of 661 participants, with a median age of 37.
“Participants completed a questionnaire that covered history of fever and/or respiratory symptoms since 13 January 2020 and had blood tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies,” according to the study’s abstract, which also said: “Nine of the ten participants hospitalised since mid-January were in the infected group, giving a hospitalization rate of 5.3%.”
The study’s interpretation of the data concluded, “The relatively low IAR [infection attack rate] observed in an area where SARS-CoV-2 actively circulated weeks before confinement measures indicates that establishing herd immunity will take time, and that lifting these measures in France will be long and complex.”
The study has not been peer-reviewed and is recommended not to be used to guide clinical practice.
“New French antibody data from a high school in Oise (north of Paris): 25 percent of 651 students, teachers, and others were infected. Yes, 1 in 4 – even more than today’s NYC data!” former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson said about the study. “No deaths in the group of 171 infected (median age 37). Nine hospitalized.”
New French antibody data from a high school in Oise (north of Paris): 25 percent of 651 students, teachers, and others were infected. Yes, 1 in 4 – even more than today’s NYC data!
No deaths in the group of 171 infected (median age 37). Nine hospitalized.https://t.co/C65WPMpWjC
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) April 23, 2020
Berenson asked, “How many more antibody studies do we need before we accept that #SARSCoV2 has spread far, far more widely than anyone realized a few weeks ago?”
As Berenson pointed out, a study released Thursday suggested that nearly 3 million New Yorkers could have coronavirus antibodies, showing a statewide infection rate of 13.9%.
Similar antibody tests conducted in California and Massachusetts showed the virus is much more widespread than previously thought, which coincided with a lower expected mortality rate.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated that nearly 3 million New Yorkers had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, citing a new study. The 3 million figure was an estimate of how many New Yorkers have contracted the virus, not the number of people who have actually tested positive.
