Coronavirus Survey Finds 21 Percent Infection Rate In NYC: Cuomo

NEW YORK CITY — More than one in five New York City dwellers tested positive for novel coronavirus in a new random survey, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.

A New York State survey found 21.2 percent of city residents tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, well over the 13.9 percent statewide rate, Cuomo said.

"These are people who were infected and developed the antibodies to fight the infection," said Cuomo. "They are now quote-unquote recovered."

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Three thousand New York residents were tested outside grocery stores in 19 counties and 40 localities statewide, Cuomo said.

Cuomo noted, "Three thousand is a significant data set, but it's preliminary."

Only New Yorkers over the age of 18 who were "out and about shopping" were surveyed, which may have skewed the data, but is it not yet clear how, said Cuomo.

New York City's rate of infection correlates with that among African Americans, who saw a 22.1 percent infection rate, and Latinos who saw a 22.5 percent rate, Cuomo said.

Asian New Yorkers saw a 11.7 percent infection rate, and white New Yorkers saw a 9.1 percent rate, data show.

Men were more likely to have antibodies with a 15.9 percent infection rate while women saw a 12 percent rate, Cuomo said.

New York State plans to continue testing on an ongoing, rolling basis to get larger sample size, Cuomo said.

"It is vital for any state, I believe, to first get a baseline study of where you are on the infection rate," Cuomo said. "You have to look at the numbers."

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