The Indian government said on Tuesday that according to the second national sero-survey report from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), it was estimated that one in 15 people over the age of 10 would be exposed to Covid-19 in August 2020.
“Of 29,082 people surveyed between August 17 and September 22, 6.6% showed evidence of past exposure to SARS-COV2,” said Dr. Balram Bhargava, CEO of ICMR, in the sero report.
Dr. Bhargava also added that, according to the second serosurvey report, urban slums and urban non-slums had a higher prevalence of SARS CoV 2 infection than rural areas. “The risk in urban slums is twice that of non-slums and four times the risk in rural areas,” the report noted.
“Since a large part of the population is still susceptible, prevention fatigue must be avoided and the 5T strategy (test, track, trace, treatment and technology) must be adhered to,” emphasized Dr. Bhargava ICMR.
The finding of the ICMR sero-survey indicated that 7.1% of the adult population showed evidence of past exposure to COVID-19.
The lower proportion of infection cases in August compared to May reflects a substantial increase in testing and detection.
Dr. Bhargava spoke today in the health ministry press. During the press, the ministry also added that the second report of the ICMR Sero Survey revealed that a considerable population is still vulnerable to Covid-19.
The ministry also added that in light of upcoming festivities, the winter season, and mass gatherings, states must implement inventive containment strategies.
However, recovered cases of the new coronavirus in India today surpassed the 51 lakh mark, the highest in the world, the government said during the press conference.
India has 4,453 COVID-19 cases and 70 deaths per million people, which is among the lowest in the world.
The COVID-19 death count per million people in India is among the lowest in the world, said Rajesh Bhushan, secretary of the Union Ministry of Health.
The number of COVID-19 tests per million population has exceeded 50,000 in India. Total tests of 2.97 million rupees performed in September, the ministry added.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, India reported its smallest daily increase in deaths from Covid-19 since Aug.3, 776, data from the Union Health Ministry showed today. With this, the death toll in India is now 96,318.
More than 1 million people have died from coronavirus worldwide as of today, according to a Reuters tally. Although the death toll in India is a relatively low 1.6% of total cases, the country, along with the United States and Brazil, account for nearly 45% of global COVID-19 deaths.
India has also seen a drop in the number of new cases of coronavirus disease today. The national tally has passed the 61 lakh mark.
.
