Large Population Still Vulnerable To COVID-19: ICMR’s Third National Serosurvey

New Delhi: Despite achieving a record recovery rate against the novel coronavirus, it is clearly not yet time to rest on our laurels as a large proportion of the Indian population still remains vulnerable to it, the third serosurvey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revealed.

The Union Health Ministry said the third national serosurvey has found that 21.5 per cent of the population, surveyed from December 17 to January 8, showed evidence of past exposure to the coronavirus. A large population still remains vulnerable and vaccination is necessary, the ministry said, sharing the findings of the survey at a press conference.

Urban slums

The urban slums have reported the highest seroprevalence with 31.7 per cent. The urban slums had reported the highest seroprevalence in the last serosurvey as well, with population density coupled with high mobility, and challenges in safe distancing and hand hygiene being the key driver of the spread of infection.

• India’s COVID-19 cumulative positivity rate is 5.42 per cent now and showing further signs of declining.
• 47 districts have not reported any new COVID-19 case
• 251 districts have not registered any new death in the last three weeks
• By 1:30 pm on Thursday, a total of 45,93,427 beneficiaries were vaccinated
• Tamil Nadu, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir are among the 11 states, UTs that have vaccinated 30 per cent or less health workers