A serological survey conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai’s civic body, has shown that 57% of people in slums and 16...
A serological survey conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai’s civic body, has shown that 57% of people in slums and 16% in residential areas may have been exposed to the coronavirus. These individuals were asymptomatic and may have quietly recovered from Covid-19, given the presence of antibodies in their bodies.
“Overall, we have observed that 40% of those surveyed, in both slums and residential areas, were infected with Covid-19, but recovered,” BMC Additional Commissioner Suresh Kakani said, according to the Hindustan Times. “None of those tested for sero survey had to undergo RT-PCR test, as they were asymptomatic.” He said that the prevalence of the virus was high in slums because of crowded dwellings, and much lower in residential areas due to physical distancing and better maintenance of hygiene.
SARS-CoV2 Sero-Prevalence Study in Mumbai; NITI Aayog–BMC-TIFR Study - First Round Report. pic.twitter.com/687nUTl3Py
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) July 28, 2020
The serological surveillance began on June 3, in collaboration with NITI Aayog and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The study period was the first 12 to 14 days of July. The survey involved a group of people undergoing blood tests to detect the presence of Immunoglobulin-G antibodies. The body’s immune system produces IgG antibodies on being exposed to a virus.
The target...
