residents of Bhubaneswar have developed antibodies against
COVID-19 infection, according to a serological survey.
The Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC),
Bhubaneswar collected around 1,320 samples during the two-day
community serological study in the Odisha capital city on
August 28 and 29.
The serological survey by the RMRC of the Indian
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that 5.15 per cent of
the people of Bhubaneswar have developed antibodies against
COVID-19, an official said.
A serological survey is conducted to assess the
prevalence of a disease in a society or population to see if
people have developed antibodies against a virus.
It shows how many or what percentage of the population
had contracted a particular disease and have acquired immunity
against it.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday
cautioned the citizens of the state capital to be more careful
as only around 5.15 per cent of the residents have developed
antibodies against COVID-19 infection.
On the results of the survey by RMRC, BMC Commissioner
PC Chaudhary said, “the less prevalence of the antibody in the
city population indicates that still there is a high risk of
infection in near future and thus the city is currently
experiencing a spike in the COVID-19 positive cases.”
During the serological survey the RMRC received 1,320
samples from various locations.
In the first phase of the serology study which was
conducted earlier, 900 samples were collected and only about
1.42 per cent of the residents of Bhubaneswar was found to
have developed antibodies for COVID-19.
The BMC commissioner said the community exposure to
COVID-19 virus was relatively low in the city may be due to a
plethora of enforcement measures taken by the civic body like
enforcement and campaign to more use of masks, practising
physical distancing, frequent washing of hands and creating
community awareness.
A large majority of the population is still
susceptible to the infection and hence all preventive measures
under COVID-19 Protocol is the need of the hour, he said.
The BMC commissioner asked the people to be extra
careful by adhering to the COVID-19 protocol.
Till Friday, Odisha had reported 1,16,678 COVID-19
cases and Khurda district, of which Bhubaneswar is a part, had
reported 19,740 cases. PTI AAM
RG RG
Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI
