Estimation of US SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Symptomatic Infections, Hospitalizations, and Deaths Using Seroprevalence Surveys

Key Points

Question Accounting for underreporting, what is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease burden in the US?

Findings In this cross-sectional study using data from public health surveillance of reported coronavirus disease 2019 cases and seroprevalence surveys, an estimated 46 910 006 SARS-CoV-2 infections, 28 122 752 symptomatic infections, 956 174 hospitalizations, and 304 915 deaths occurred in the US through November 15, 2020.

Meaning Findings of this study suggest that although more than 14% of the US population was infected with SARS-CoV-2 by mid-November, a substantial gap remains before herd immunity can be reached.