In new “best estimates,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the fatality rates for Americans infected with COVID-19 symptoms to 0.4%.
In CDC’s “COVID-19 Pandemic Planning Scenarios,” which are guidelines geared toward helping public health officials make decisions, the agency estimates that 35% of people infected are asymptomatic.
For people ages 65 and older, the CDC puts the fatality rate at 1.3%. For people ages 49 and under, the agency estimated that 0.05% of symptomatic people will die.
The agency also estimates that 40% of coronavirus transmission happens before people feel sick.
The CDC says the numbers can change as more information is learned about the virus. The new “best estimates” are based on data collected before April 29.
"The scenarios are intended to advance public health preparedness and planning. They are not predictions or estimates of the expected impact of COVID-19," the CDC reports.
The CDC also said the numbers do not "reflect the impact of any behavioral changes, social distancing, or other interventions.”
One expert told CNN the CDC’s death predictions are too low.
“While most of these numbers are reasonable, the mortality rates shade far too low," biologist Carl Bergstrom of the University of Washington told CNN. “As I see it, the 'best estimate' is extremely optimistic, and the 'worst case' scenario is fairly optimistic even as a best estimate. One certainly wants to consider worse scenarios.”
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