1 in 4 healthcare worker has had Covid-19, says sero-survey

NEW DELHI: About 21.5% of Indians above the age of 18 may have been infected with Covid-19, according to a government serological survey of more than 35,500 people released on Thursday.

Among healthcare workers, the figure jumped to 25.7% in the third nation sero survey, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director general Balram Bhargava.

“The third sero-survey was done from December 17, 2020, to January 8, 2021. A general population of 28,589 individuals were included and another group of 7,171 healthcare workers were also included... Above the age of 18 years the seroprevalance was 21.4%. Seroprevalence among children aged 10-17 years was 25.3%,” he said.

“Statistically, it was not different

between doctors, nurses, field staff, and paramedics, but it was highest among doctors and nurses with 26.6% as against the administrative staff which was 24.9%,” Bhargava added.

The sero-prevalence is the presence of antibodies against Covid-19 in the population.

He said that the survey was conducted in the same 700 villages/wards.

According to the survey, a large proportion still remains vulnerable, and so prevention is the key and vaccines are necessary, Bhargava said.

According to the ICMR, 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.