COVID-19 Pune: Community Spread in city? Serological survey initiated to find out

COVID-19 Pune: Community Spread in city? Serological survey initiated to find out

Pune: A serological survey has been initiated in Pune to find out whether the community spread of coronavirus has begun in the city. The survey is being done under a tri-party agreement between Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER) and Persistent Foundation.

Saurabh Rao, Special Officer on Duty at the Divisional Commissioner Office revealed this information during the media interaction on Friday afternoon. The positivity rate is crucial in containing the spread of the coronavirus as it also indicates the total population affected by the contagion. So far, the positivity rate hovers over 25 to 27 per cent during weekdays, but jumps to 35 to 40 per cent during weekends.

A 25 per cent positivity rate for means almost more than one fourth of the city’s population may have already been exposed to the coronavirus infection and generated antibodies against it, but this claim needs to be backed with the serological survey findings which the administration has now initiated.

Rao said, “The survey has started from Thursday (July 30). On the first day itself 1,500 samples of citizens were collected. The sampling is being done randomly. Experts from IISER will be deciding on the exact sample size to be covered for the survey. IISER has given a regular timeline of August 20 to complete the serological survey, but we have asked them to finish it earlier. In order to do that, IISER has asked for additional manpower from the administration which we are providing to them at the earliest.”

“The Persistent Foundation has provided funding for serological survey activity in Pune city. The survey will be completed as early as possible with the help of PMC resources,” Rao added.

COVID-19 TESTING ON SUNDAYS

Date

Samples tested

Positive cases found

Positivity per cent

July 12

1,514

621

40.82

July 19

3,815

1,508

39.52

July 26

2,505

992

39.60

TESTS CONDUCTED BY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF PUNE CITY

Period

Tests conducted

Positive cases (per cent)

June 25 to July 1

22,800

4,451 (19.5)

July 2 to 8

25,200

6,063 (24)

July 9 to 15

32,100 -

6,335 (19.7)

July 16 to 23

37,000

10,152 (27)

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