A Sero-Prevalence study conducted in Delhi shows 23.48% people are affected by coronavirus

PTI

A Sero-Prevalence study conducted in Delhi to understand the proportion of population exposed to corona infection shows that 23.48 per cent of the people are affected due to coronavirus. The results of the study show that on an average the prevalence of IgG antibodies is 23.48 percent in Delhi. The study also indicates that a large number of infected persons remain asymptomatic.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare commissioned a Sero-Surveillance study in Delhi. This study has been done by the National Center for Disease Control in collaboration with the Delhi Government.

This Study was conducted from 27th of June to 10th of July in all the 11 districts of Delhi. 21 thousand 387 blood samples were collected from selected individuals and were tested for IgG antibodies using the ELISA testing kits. It is one of the largest Sero-Prevalence studies conducted in the country using the ELISA testing. The tests have been done to identify the presence of antibodies in the general population. It provided information about past Covid-19 infection in individuals who tested positive. The Ministry said, a significant proportion of the population is still vulnerable and the containment and preventive measures need to continue with the same intensity.

AIR correspondent reports that antibody testing like Sero-Surveillance provides important evidence for assessing the spread of the pandemic. Depending upon the level of sero-prevalence of infection, appropriate public health interventions can be planned and implemented for prevention and control of the disease. As per the Indian Council of Medical Research, periodic sero-surveys are useful to guide the policy makers to conduct surveys in high risk areas or vulnerable populations who have been infected in the past and have now recovered.

Speaking to AIR News Dr. Sanjay Rai , Professor of Community Medicine in AIIMS, Delhi, hailed the Delhi Sero Survey Report as a positive development. He said, the dwindling numbers of new cases in the Capital City also indicate that people in the city have started showing natural resistance towards the CoronaVirus. Dr. Rai however cautioned the public not to let down their guards and continue wearing masks and maintain physical distancing.