Over 14% Kolkata residents have COVID-19 antibodies, finds ICMR survey; city far from developing herd immunity, say doctors

Kolkata: Over 14 percent of Kolkata residents have developed COVID-19 antibodies, a seroprevalence survey by Indian Council of Medical Research has said. A seroprevalence survey conducted via random and rapid tests — the IgM and the IGg — indicate the rate of transmission in a community and whether it has started developing herd immunity to a virus. [caption id=“attachment_8525521” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] The survey was conducted on the basis of random samples but the sample size was not mentioned. According to senior doctors, the survey indicated that the transmission is high in the metropolis, which is far from developing herd immunity or antibodies to combat COVID-19. Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here In neighbouring South 24-Parganas district, it is 2.5 percent while it is 1 percent in Alipurduar district, the survey said. There has been less than 1 per cent of antibody positivity rates in districts of Purba Medinipore, Bankura and Jhargram, the survey stated. Antibody is a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, an antigen. In this case it is the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.