Over half of Delhi likely exposed to Sars-cov-2, suggests sero survey

NEW DELHI: At least half of Delhi’s population may have been exposed to the Sars-cov-2 virus, the latest serological study in Delhi suggests, with 56% of the 28,000 people sampled during a citywide survey testing positive for antibodies, according to people aware of the findings who asked not to be named.

The number was particularly high in the south-east district at 62%, the people said, and now appears to fall in a territory that experts believe is close to the herd immunity threshold. Herd immunity is when enough people have immunity – estimated to be 60-80% of the population in case of Sars-cov-2 – to a disease that it leaves very few vulnerable people for it to spread to, slowing an outbreak.

“These figures are as per a preliminary report of the fifth round of serological surveillance that was submitted to the Delhi health secretary on Monday. The detailed report is likely to be submitted by researchers conducting the study from Maulana Azad Medical College by January 28,” one of the people added, asking not to be named. The survey was conducted between Jan 11 and Jan 21.

Experts said that the survey’s results are in sync with infection trends seen in the Capital.