News Story
1.5 Million In Michigan Probably Contracted Virus - Not 154,688
Nearly one-in-seven; confirmed cases just 10% of total, per CDC head, researchers
In late June, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a conference call with reporters that the number of Americans infected with COVID-19 “is likely to be 10 times as high” at the number of confirmed cases.
This suggests that the number of people in Michigan who have contracted the disease is in the range of 1.5 million, not the 154,688 “confirmed cases” as of Oct. 23, which the state has reported.
In other words, according to information provided by the head of CDC, 15% of Michigan residents – almost one out of every seven – has contracted the disease and developed antibodies. The information also raises questions about the actual fatality rate from this epidemic.
Other studies have come to similar conclusions.
The Journal of the American Medical Association reported in July that there were six to 24 times more infections than actual confirmed cases reported in studies done in selected cities. That means for most cities, there are likely greater than 10 times more coronavirus infections than the number of reported COVID-19 cases.
The figures raise questions regarding current policies and comments made by prominent government health officials.
In August, Michigan’s chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said that residents are lucky if they contract COVID-19 but don’t die from it.
“If you’re lucky, you get to keep your life and you don’t die. But even if you live, there are many people that have long-term health consequences,” Khaldun said at an Aug. 19 press conference.
The health director for the city of New Orleans sent out a warning on June 20 about people who have parties that may violate social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Jennifer Avegno said that party hosts should pick out the seven people out of 100 guests they are sentencing to death.
“Right now our fatality rate of known cases is stubbornly stuck at 7%,” Avegno wrote in a June 20 press release. “If you are planning a party for 100 people, look around and decide which 7 of them you would be comfortable sentencing to death.”
