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. 2020 Aug:48:23-29.e4.
doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.06.004. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Cumulative incidence and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in New York

Eli S Rosenberg  1 , James M Tesoriero  2 , Elizabeth M Rosenthal  3 , Rakkoo Chung  2 , Meredith A Barranco  3 , Linda M Styer  4 , Monica M Parker  4 , Shu-Yin John Leung  2 , Johanne E Morne  2 , Danielle Greene  2 , David R Holtgrave  3 , Dina Hoefer  2 , Jessica Kumar  2 , Tomoko Udo  3 , Brad Hutton  2 , Howard A Zucker  2
Affiliations

Cumulative incidence and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in New York

Eli S Rosenberg et al. Ann Epidemiol. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: New York State (NYS) is an epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United States. Reliable estimates of cumulative incidence in the population are critical to tracking the extent of transmission and informing policies.

Methods: We conducted a statewide seroprevalence study in a 15,101 patron convenience sample at 99 grocery stores in 26 counties throughout NYS. SARS-CoV-2 cumulative incidence was estimated from antibody reactivity by first poststratification weighting and then adjusting by antibody test characteristics. The percent diagnosed was estimated by dividing the number of diagnoses by the number of estimated infection-experienced adults.

Results: Based on 1887 of 15,101 (12.5%) reactive results, estimated cumulative incidence through March 29 was 14.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.3%-14.7%), corresponding to 2,139,300 (95% CI: 2,035,800-2,242,800) infection-experienced adults. Cumulative incidence was highest in New York City 22.7% (95% CI: 21.5%-24.0%) and higher among Hispanic/Latino (29.2%), non-Hispanic black/African American (20.2%), and non-Hispanic Asian (12.4%) than non-Hispanic white adults (8.1%, P < .0001). An estimated 8.9% (95% CI: 8.4%-9.3%) of infections in NYS were diagnosed, with diagnosis highest among adults aged 55 years or older (11.3%, 95% CI: 10.4%-12.2%).

Conclusions: From the largest U.S. serosurvey to date, we estimated >2 million adult New York residents were infected through late March, with substantial disparities, although cumulative incidence remained less than herd immunity thresholds. Monitoring, testing, and contact tracing remain essential public health strategies.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Infectious diseases; Seroepidemiologic studies; Seroprevalence; Surveillance.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
New York State counties included in the New York State Department of Health Serological Testing Survey1. 1Sampled counties—Long Island: Nassau, Suffolk; New York City: Boroughs of Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island; Westchester, Rockland Counties; Rest of State: Albany, Broome, Clinton, Dutchess, Erie, Greene, Jefferson, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Tompkins, and Ulster.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of MFI values for DBS samples tested by the SARS-CoV-1N versus SARS-CoV-2N assay.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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