Pune: Second sero-surveillance survey to be launched soon to track the spread of COVID-19

Covid 19
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Shikha Chaurasia

Pune, 5th August 2020: Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao made a public announcement about a second sero-surveillance which is going to start soon in the city to check for herd immunity amongst healthcare workers and the general population of the city. The first survey was launched by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) whose results are expected to come by August 15.

 

The survey is going to be carried out by the BJ Medical College (BJMC) along with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).

 

BJMC’s microbiology department is going to conduct the survey. They said that they are waiting for final clearance and approvals from the ethics committee. According to the officials, the work will commence within a week.

 

What aspects will the survey cover?

1) The survey will mainly focus on healthcare workers.

2) It will check for herd immunity amongst the healthcare workers and the general population. If herd immunity is found, it will mean reduced risk and spread of the virus in those areas where people have developed herd immunity against the novel Coronavirus.

3) The survey will also monitor the exposure levels of the virus in containment zones.

 

Phase I of the sero-surveillance survey studied only the areas in which the transmission of the virus was high compared to the population.