Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Status in Decedents Undergoing Forensic Postmortem Examination in Maryland, May 24 to June 30, 2020

• Published in: Open forum infectious diseases Vol. 8; no. 1; p. ofaa611
• Main Authors: Althoff, Keri N, Laeyendecker, Oliver, Li, Rong, Coburn, Sally B, Klock, Ethan, Baker, Owen R, Quinn, Thomas C, Michael, Jeffrey, Shields, Wendy C, Ehsani, Johnathon, Thomas, F Dennis, Graham, Lindsey A, Ali, Zabiullah, Manabe, Yukari C, Li, Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Brief Reports; seroprevalence; drug overdose; SARS-CoV-2 antibodies; decedents; motor vehicle crash
• ISSN: 2328-8957; 2328-8957
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa611

Abstract
Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies was 10% among the subset of decedents undergoing forensic postmortem examination in June in Maryland. Decedents of motor vehicle crashes had similar seroprevalence compared with those with a natural death (including decedents with SARS-CoV-2 infection). Decedents of motor vehicle crashes may be a sentinel surveillance population.
Update summary is as follows:Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 10% among decedents undergoing forensic postmortem examination in June in Maryland. Decedents of motor vehicle crashes had similar seroprevalence to those with a natural death (including decedents with SARS-CoV-2 infection) and may be a sentinel surveillance population.