Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A sero-survey has shown that 84.3 per cent of people in Kashmir have Covid-19 antibodies. The study was conducted by Government Medical College Srinagar in collaboration with National Health Mission, Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, SKIMS Medical College Bemina, Health Services Kashmir and GMC Anantnag and Baramulla.
The survey, conducted on people over the age of 7, collected 400 samples from each district of the valley for testing. A total of 3,586 samples were tested, out of which 3,025 samples were found to contain the antibodies.
According to the survey, the highest number of antibodies were found in Srinagar with a percentage of 89.77 and the lowest was found in Pulwama district with 78.24 percent.
Similarly, Anantnag has 87.23%, Shopian 86.89%, Baramulla 84.91%, Bandipora 84.42%, Budgam 83.68%, Kulgam 82.95%, Ganderbal 82.8% and Kupwara 81.5% antibodies.
Earlier, the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, in collaboration with various medical institutes, had conducted a district-level sero-survey in the Kashmir Valley in which 4 out of 10 people were found to have the Covid-19 antibodies.
Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing a decline in the Covid positive cases for the last several months. As the pandemic is not yet over precautionary measures are still in place.