Findings of the ICMR’s second national sero-survey which came on Tuesday tells that a considerable portion of the population is still vulnerable to Covid infection. This means in the coming months, there might be a repetition of the explosion of cases observed during June-August. The report is also a good indication that the much-wished herd immunity factor, as of now has not percolated among the masses. But the most important message the report carries for the country's people is that there is no alternative but to practice religiously all the mandated protocols to minimise the virus’s spread.

It’s relevant to observe that the results this time have been published within a week of conclusion of the survey which was conducted between August 17-September 22, unlike the first one (conducted between May 11-June 4) which took several months for a full publication and created a stir in the health fraternity. To make a better comparative analysis, the second survey was also conducted across the same 700 villages and urban wards from 70 districts in 21 states which were covered in first edition and the findings has thrown mixed outcomes in terms of latest percentages of sero-prevalence which is a measure of presence of Covid antibodies among people covered through a given sample. It has also been found that around 7.1 % of India's adult population aged 18 years and above has the evidence of being exposed to the virus sometime during earlier months and more specifically, 1 in 15 in the age group of 10 years and above had been exposed to Covid by August 2020. Significantly and expectedly, the risk of infection has been found to be twice among slum dwellers compared to non-slum habitants of urban areas and four times that in rural areas. A non-technical inference that can be gathered from the above findings that might also serve as an explanation for the continuing exponential surge of cases in the ICR is that density of population is directly proportional to chances of spread. And with denizens, at least a good part of them still unfazed of the dangers that lie ahead due to relinquishment of protective responsibilities, it’s impossible to manage matters alone by the administration. Furthermore, in overall national perspective, it needs a deeper peep to explain why on last two days daily caseloads have dipped to around 70,000. It’s simply because there is a simultaneous drop in testing from an average of 10 lakh on weekdays to 7 lakh on Sunday. As such, any elation will prove a misinterpretation in the long run.

The Covid infection trap is silently widening. More testing and isolation and citizens’ responsibility are the only ways for remaining away from the trap.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List