27.7% people in Punjab containment zones test positive for antibodies

Chandigarh, Aug 20 A total of 27.7 per cent people in Punjab's containment zones have been found positive for Covid-19 antibodies, indicating that they have already been infected and have recovered from the virus.

The survey findings, submitted to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh during a Covid-19 review meeting on Thursday, showed the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies' prevalence in the containment zones to be the highest at 40 per cent in Amritsar district, followed by 35.6 per cent in Ludhiana, 33.2 per cent in SAS Nagar, 19.2 per cent in Patiala district and 10.8 per cent in Jalandhar district.

This was the state's first exclusive survey, and was conducted in five containment zones from August 1 to 17, in a systematically selected random sample population of 1,250.

The earlier surveys were more generalised and were conducted by the state government in coordination with the ICMR, a government statement said.

The survey report came on a day when Delhi released its second sero survey findings, which showed nearly 29 per cent seroprevalence in the national capital.

For this exclusive Punjab survey, the selected containment zones which had reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases were located - one each - in Patiala, SAS Nagar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar districts.

The sample included 250 people from each zone, and from each of the selected households, one adult above the age of 18 was randomly chosen for the survey.

Overall, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was found to be 27.7 per cent in the containment zones where the highest number of Covid-19 cases had been reported.

However, in the remaining parts of the cities, prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 would be lower, and in the rural areas the prevalence would be much lower than in the urban areas, as per the report of the survey, which was aimed at finding the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using rapid antibody testing kits.

Giving details, the state government's health advisory expert group head K.K. Talwar said a team of trained field assistants and laboratory technic collected the data under the supervision of a medical officer.

( With inputs from IANS )