April 28, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
Approximately one-in-four New York City residents may have been infected with the coronavirus at some point, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said yesterday.
The findings were based on antibody tests that were conducted statewide to ascertain how many New Yorkers may have been infected.
The data, Cuomo said, serves as an important tool in the fight against the virus and will be used to determine when the economy should re-open.
The tests consisted of a blood sample taken from each participant via a fingerstick. The blood samples were then tested for the antibodies. The positive results indicate that their immune system has had to fight off the virus at some point.
Many tests were conducted in Flushing.
Congresswoman Grace Meng said that more than 360 coronavirus antibody tests were carried out in Flushing over the weekend. It is unclear what percentage of the people at the Flushing site tested positive.
Cuomo said that 24.7 percent of those tested in New York City came back positive, suggesting that nearly 2.1 million residents could have been infected with COVID-19 at some point.
One Comment
Contact tracing a respiratory virus in a city of 9 million people when 25% have already had it is a fools errand. We need to open up now while we have some businesses left.