New Delhi: Under a mammoth campaign, a serological survey to undertake a comprehensive analysis of COVID-19 in Delhi and prepare a broad strategy to combat the pandemic will be carried out in the national capital from Saturday.
What are serology tests?
Serology (antibody) tests are largely used for surveillance among the community. They can be used on people who have already been tested positive for the virus or even those who are asymptomatic, and can reveal insights on immunity against coronavirus.
How will it be conducted in Delhi?
The home ministry had said the sereological survey will be done for entire Delhi between June 27-July 10 in which 20,000 people will be randomly sample tested across all 11 districts.
The district-wise formed teams will visit, hotspots, buffer zones, and other identified areas and will randomly test people. According to reports, it will take only around 30 minutes for the antibody kit to identify whether antibodies have been formed in a person's body.
A home ministry spokesperson informed that the survey will be carried out jointly by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), under the Union health ministry and the Delhi Government.
The Ministry said that training of all the concerned survey teams was completed and the process would begin on June 27.
How will it help?
According to a statement from the Home Ministry, the serological survey will enable authorities to undertake a comprehensive analysis of COVID-19 in the city and then a broad strategy can be prepared to combat the pandemic in the national capital.
The results of the antibody tests will reveal how many Delhiites unknowingly contracted the virus and even recovered based on their immunity. According to reports, around 65 per cent of coronavirus cases in the national capital are asymptomatic.
The announcement of the survey had come after Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla reviewed implementation of various decisions on the coronavirus-related situation in Delhi, which were taken on June 21 in a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were also present at the meeting, and discussed recommendations made by Dr Vinod Paul committee on strategy to curb the spread of coronavirus in the national capital.
The COVID-19 situation in Delhi
On June 26, Delhi recorded 3,460 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally in the city to 77,240. Sixty-three fatalities were also recorded in the preceding 24 hours, taking the death toll from the coronavirus infection to 2,492.
(With inputs from agencies)
