The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released findings of its fourth national serosurvey on COVID19 which shows that two-third of the general population has SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A third of the population still does not have antibodies, which means over 400 million people are still vulnerable to the disease. These findings of the serosurvey, conducted in June and July this year, were released today July 20.

The survey, fourth in the series of serosurveys, was carried out in the same 70 districts of 21 states where the three earlier serosurveys have been conducted. It covered a general population of 28,975 people in the age group of six to 17 years, and 7,252 healthcare workers in the country. The survey found an overall sero-prevalence of 67.6 per cent.

Among the 7,252 healthcare workers, the fourth serosurvey found a sero-prevalence of 85.2 per cent. It also found that one-tenth the health workers were still not vaccinated.

The serosurvey found that more than half of the children (6 -17 yr) were seropositive. Sero-prevalence was similar in rural and urban areas.

Releasing the serosurvey findings, the ICMR has said that societal, public, religious and political congregations should be avoided. Non-essential travels be discouraged and people should travel only when fully vaccinated with both the doses.