ICMR Sero Survey: One in five Indians Exposed to COVID-19

Survey: According to the National Sero Survey in India, more than 21% of the adult population was exposed to Covid-19. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) noted that 21.4% of 28,589 people.

Surveyed above 18 years of age showed exposure to the virus. But it also said that a large part of the population is still vulnerable to Covid-19. India reported 12,408 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours.

The National Sero Survey – the third of its kind does between 17th December and 8th January. Two weeks before India kicked off its vaccination drive. Some 4.5 million doses are administrated far to frontline workers. Who are the only ones eligible for the vaccine in the first round with more than 10 million cases. India has reported the second-highest number of infections globally, after the US.

ICMR Survey:

But in recent weeks, the daily caseload has dropped sharply. On Thursday, the Director-General of ICMR, Balram Bhargava, told a press conference. The Sero Survey shows that the presence of Covid-19 antibodies in children ages 10 to 17 years is 25.3%. Among the healthcare workers, seroprevalence was the highest overall with 25.7%.

Adding to the nurses and doctors shows a higher seroprevalence of 26.6% as compared to administrative staff which was 24.9%. Seroprevalence means the presence of antibodies against Covid-19 in the population. Urban slums had a seroprevalence of 31.7% and urban non-slums showed a seroprevalence of 26.2% which was significantly higher than Covid-19 exposure in rural areas – 19.1%.

Earlier, a Sero Survey of capital Delhi, the fifth such survey. Found that over half the population – 56.13% has developed antibodies against Covid-19. Delhi’s Health Minister said that the city “was moving towards here immunity but only experts can give a clearer picture”.

But experts have warned against taking herd immunity for granted. “A cautious approach should maintain despite these reports,” Dr Vinod Paul, a member of the national task force, told Times of India newspaper.

ICMR’s chief epidemiologist said India was a long way away from achieving herd immunity.