L.A. County Study: Coronavirus Outbreak Up to 55 Times More Widespread, Less Deadly than Predicted

The novel coronavirus has infected roughly 4.1 percent of the population in California’s Los Angeles County, suggesting the region’s outbreak is far more widespread than previously thought, between 28 and 55 times higher than the number of confirmed cases, new research shows, echoing the findings of a similar study elsewhere in the state.

However, the new data, if accurate, also indicates that the coronavirus death rate in L.A. County, the most populous in the country, is lower than initially predicted.

Researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) and the L.A. Department of Public Health gleaned the data from antibody testing of about 863 county residents. Antibodies are an indication that an individual’s immune system has responded to a past infection.

On Monday, CNBC reported:

USC and the health department released preliminary study results that found that roughly 4.1% of the county’s adult population has antibodies to the coronavirus, estimating that between 221,000 adults to 442,000 adults in the county have had the infection.

This new estimate is 28 to 55 times higher than the 7,994 confirmed cases of Covid-19 [coronavirus illness] reported to the county in early April. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the county has now surpassed 600, according to the Department of Public Health. The data, if correct, would mean that the county’s fatality rate is lower than originally thought.

If accurate, the top end of the estimated number of L.A. County residents who may have contracted the virus would amount to more than half (56 percent) of the total number of cases in the United States, while the lower range would equal to about 30 percent of the overall number in America.

Stanford University researchers who looked at California’s Santa Clara County, much less populated than its L.A. counterpart, reached similar conclusions, finding that the coronavirus outbreak may be more widespread but less deadly than originally estimated.

The Stanford University researchers found that between 2.5 percent and 4.2 percent of county residents had antibodies to the coronavirus by early April, the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday, adding:

Though the county had reported roughly 1,000 cases in early April, the Stanford researchers estimate the actual number was between 48,000 and 81,000, or 50 to 85 times greater.

…

Based on their results, the Stanford researchers estimated the mortality rate in Santa Clara County to be between 0.12% and 0.2%. By comparison, the average death rate of the seasonal flu is 0.1%.

The findings of both the L.A. and Santa Clara studies echo the results of other assessments.

Earlier this month, the Economist magazine cited a new study that found the fatal and highly contagious novel coronavirus has spread faster but is less deadly than official data imply.

The coronavirus mortality rate could be as low as 0.1 percent, “similar to that of flu,” the researchers cited by the Economist found, noting that the faster the disease spreads and hits its peak, the fewer people will die.

In early March, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House Coronavirus Taskforce, predicted a much higher death rate for the United States, saying it could reach two percent.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/04/20/l-a-county-study-coronavirus-outbreak-up-to-55-times-more-widespread-less-deadly-than-predicted/

Dr. Birx Asked About Latest Studies that Show Coronavirus Numbers Similar to Flu — Sadly She Dodges Question

Stanford University researcher Dr. John Ioannidis recently presented his findings from a recent coronavirus study in Santa Clara, California.

The research project looked at 3,300 people in Santa Clara County in California. The Stanford study revealed that 2.5% to 4.2% of people tested for COVID-19 were positive for antibodies.

The data indicates that there are between 50 to 80-fold more infections in the general population than confirmed cases.

This was a huge development.

In describing his findings Dr. Ioannidis concluded that the coronavirus has an infection fatality rate that is in the same ballpark as seasonal influenza.

This confirms what we at The Gateway Pundit has been saying since March.

The WHO misled the global community by claiming the coronavirus mortality rate was 3.4%

The latest information shows the virus mortality rate is closer to a seasonal flu.

On Monday Dr. Deborah Birx was finally questioned about the misleading numbers she and Dr. Fauci have been pushing on the American public.

Dr. Birx was asked about the California study that shows the coronavirus is more prevalent than the experts predicted.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/04/finally-dr-birx-asked-latest-studies-show-coronavirus-numbers-similar-flu-sadly-dodges-question-video/

Ankara's Intent to Deploy Russian S-400 Could Result in US Sanctions

The United States has demanded that Turkey cancel all purchases of the Russian-made S-400 system and instead buy the US-made Patriot missile system. The delivery of the Russian defence missiles to Ankara began in July 2019 and installation and deployment is ongoing, according to reports.

US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told Reuters on Monday that the US continues to strongly object to Turkey purchasing and implementing Russian-made S-400 missiles, adding that it could result in sanctions on the country through the use of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) .

"We continue to stress at the highest levels that the S-400 transaction is the subject of ongoing CAATSA sanctions deliberations and it remains a major obstacle in the bilateral relationship and at NATO. We are confident that President Erdogan and his senior officials understand our position," Ortagus said in an emailed statement.

The need to focus on slowing the spread the novel coronavirus pandemic has purportedly delayed, but not cancelled, implementing the new S-400 defence system, according to an unnamed senior Turkish official.

"There is no going back on the decision to activate the S-400s (but) due to COVID-19 … the plan for them to be ready in April will be delayed," the official said, cited by Reuters.

The United States claims that the S-400 missiles, delivered by Moscow to Turkey in July 2019, are incompatible with NATO defences and would jeopardise an agreement with Turkey for purchasing US fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets. Instead of the S-400, the US has repeatedly demanded that Turkey purchase the US-made Patriot air defence system.

Ankara has refused to make any concessions regarding the S-400 purchase. Earlier in March, the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared that the S-400 would enter service in Turkey in April.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202004211079036733-ankaras-intent-to-deploy-russian-s-400-could-result-in-us-sanctions—state-dept/

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