Bengaluru: Serosurvey has revealed that around 16% of the people in Karnataka have developed antibodies against COVID-19 virus, Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Wednesday. He was speaking at a press conference held in Vidhana Soudha.
A survey to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 in Karnataka was done from September 3-16, 2020. This included the proportion of people who had COVID-19 infection recently and those currently having active SARS-CoV-2 infection. The sampled population surveyed were all adults aged 18 years and above. All 30 districts of the state, including eight zones of BBMP, were included in the survey. The survey was conducted in hospitals and selected population settings, the minister told the media.
The study used Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and RT-PCR for the diagnosis of acute infection. At the same time, serum testing for IgG antibodies was conducted to know the protection offered by the immune response. The standard ICMR protocols were used, and ICMR approved laboratory network in the state was utilized, Dr Sudhakar added.
Giving a brief explanation of the survey, the minister said that the survey revealed that, 16.4% of the people were infected in the past and found to have antibodies against Covid-19 in the surveyed population. This amount is 29.1% in Delhi, 16% in Mumbai non-slum settings, 57% in slum settings, 36.1-65.4% across five Divisions in Pune, 7.8% in Indore, 22.7% in Puducherry, and 32.3% in Chennai.
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Compared to other studies in India, the survey undertaken in Karnataka has captured total prevalence, which includes information on both current and past infections. The participants were included from locations centred around 290 hospitals spread throughout the state of Karnataka at the district, taluk and rural areas. The survey employed all three tests: Rapid Antigen Tests, RTPCR, and antibody (IgG), the minister said.
Dr K Sudhakar further said that the survey is useful in improving the quality of treatment and following the precautionary/safety measures. Sudhakar added that the mortality rate in the state is very low and the recovery rate is about 95%. He said that the government is willing to establish a rehabilitation centre for those recovered from Covid-19 infection.
