It's hard to escape the coronavirus.

In February 2022, at least 58% of the American population had contracted Covid since the start of the pandemic, according to a study by the American Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) published on Tuesday and based on an examination of antibodies. .

This percentage is equivalent to nearly 190 million people in the United States, a number much higher than the 80 million officially recorded cases, most of which are therefore undiagnosed, asymptomatic or not registered with the authorities.

Nearly 6 in 10 Americans (57.7%) had antibodies showing a previous Covid-19 infection in February 2022, according to the latest CDC figures.

Almost double vs December 2021 with the Omicron wave.

3 out of 4 children have already been infected.https://t.co/mKfQ4wIGVX pic.twitter.com/72e8hAESpW

— Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) April 26, 2022


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About 75% of the population under the age of 18 contracted the virus, according to the study, with a colossal jump in cases – particularly among unvaccinated children – during the wave of the Omicron variant last winter.

The nationwide survey looked for the presence of antibodies against the nucleocapsid protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which the immune system only creates in response to contamination.

75,000 samples analyzed

Current vaccines train the immune system to create antibodies against the Spike protein.

Each month from September 2021 to January 2022, the study examined nearly 75,000 blood samples across the country, as well as 45,000 in February.

The researchers then produced national estimates using statistical methods to weight age, gender and geographic distribution.

"We didn't look at whether people had a level of antibodies from a previous (Covid) infection that was sufficient to provide protection against reinfection or the development of a severe form of the disease," said Kristie Clarke, co-lead of the national Covid-19 serology task force, during a conference call with reporters.

Another 300 deaths per day

“Previous infection has been found to provide some protection against severe disease and hospitalizations – and vaccination, either before or after infection, provides additional protection,” she added.

It remains essential to be up to date with your vaccination against Covid-19, underlined Kristie Clarke.

The United States currently offers a fourth dose of the vaccine to people aged 50 and over, and a third dose to people below that age.

Children aged five and under are the only ones still not eligible for vaccination.

Nationally, the number of cases is going up due to the Omicron BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 subvariants.

Despite an increasing number of hospitalizations, the number of deaths continues to fall and currently stands at almost 300 a day.

The United States should officially reach the symbolic mark of one million deaths in the coming weeks.

  • World

  • Covid-19

  • UNITED STATES