BALTIMORE (AP)- Maryland’s health department will collaborate with 13 hospitals to conduct an antibody study to determine how many people have been exposed to COVID-19 in the state, the department said Thursday.
More than 6,000 people will be tested in the initial phase, the department said, and additional testing will take place based on what is learned and statistical gaps found in the initial survey.
Hospitals participating in the study are representative of the state’s geography and expected levels of infection. That’s based on confirmed COVID-19 cases and patients visiting emergency departments.
“Understanding the level and pattern of unrecognized community transmissions of COVID-19 is crucial to curb transmission and prevent a future wave of the pandemic,” Health Secretary Robert Neall said. “Establishing a baseline of those who have tested positive will help us better understand how it spreads so we can fight it more effectively.”
