Is Delhi Moving Towards ‘Herd Immunity’? Here's What Sero-Survey Suggests

According to officials, the samples of over 25,000 people from various districts across the city were collected for the survey.

A health worker labels a blood sample collected for coronavirus serosurvey, in Sadar Bazaar, on September 4, 2020, in New Delhi | Getty

Delhi is moving towards attaining herd immunity against the coronavirus infection indicates the outcome of the fifth round of the sero-prevalence survey. According to sources, the survey has found that around 50 to 60 percent of the people in one district having developed antibodies to the virus. According to officials, the samples of over 25,000 people from various districts across the city were collected for the survey.

“In one district, the seroprevalence rate is between 50-60 percent, indicating a large number of people have developed antibodies. So, we can say the city is moving towards attaining herd immunity,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

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Herd immunity implies that after becoming affected by the virus, several people become immune to it on account of antibodies developed in response to it. Hence, such people become a protective layer between the infected and unaffected.

This was the fifth such exercise conducted. The AAP Government in Delhi has, however, not given any official version yet on it.  The first sero-prevalence was done by the Delhi Government in association with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) from June 27-July 10 last year. 21,387 samples were taken for the survey and it was found that around 23 percent of the people surveyed had an exposure to the coronavirus.

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The exercise in August last year showed 29.1 percent people had antibodies while the figures stood at 25.1 percent and 25.5 per cent in the survey in September and October last year.

The exercises were undertaken for a comprehensive assessment of the coronavirus situation and to formulate future strategies as per the findings.

Meanwhile, the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination program was conducted successfully on the tenth day in the states and UTs.

The cumulative number of healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has crossed 19.5 lakh today.