ObjectivesTo study the percentage seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 to understand the pandemic status and predict the future situations in Ahmedabad.Study designCross-sectional study.SettingsField area of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.ParticipantsMore than 30 000 individuals irrespective of their age, sex, acute/past COVID-19 infection participated in the serosurvey which covered all the 75 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) across 48 wards and 7 zones of the city. Study also involved healthcare workers (HCWs) from COVID-19/non-COVID-19 hospitals.InterventionsSeropositivity of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was measured as a mark of COVID-19 infection.Primary and secondary outcomesSeropositivity was used to calculate cumulative incidence. Correlation of seropositivity with available demographic detail was used for valid and precise assessment of the pandemic situation.ResultsFrom 30 054 samples, the results were available for 29 891 samples and the crude seropositivity is 17.61%. For all the various age groups, the seropositivity calculated between 15% and 20%. The difference in seropositivity for both the sex group is statistically not significant. The seropositivity is significantly lower (13.64%) for HCWs as compared with non-HCWs (18.71%). Seropositivity shows increasing trend with time. Zone with maximum initial cases has high positivity as compared with other zones. UPHCs with recent rise in cases are leading in seropositivity as compared with earlier and widely affected UPHCs.ConclusionsThe results of serosurveillance suggest that the population of Ahmedabad is still largely susceptible. People still need to follow preventive measures to protect themselves till an effective vaccine is available to the people at large. The data indicate the possibility of vanishing immunity over time and need further research to cross verify with scientific evidences.
Background
Health Care Workers (HCWs) are at higher risk for Covid19. Sero-surveillance among HCWs using IgG antibodies can add further value to the scientific findings.
Objectives
To estimate seropositivity among HCWs and to correlate it with various factors affecting seropositivity.
Methods
Population based large scale sero-surveillance among HCWs was carried out during second half of August’20 in Ahmedabad using “Covid-Kavach” IgG Antibody Detection ELISA kits. Seropositivity among HCWs was estimated and compared with various demographic & other factors to understand their infection & immunity status. Proportions and Z-test were used as appropriate.
Results
As on August’20, Seropositivity among HCWs from Ahmedabad is 23.65% (95% Confidence Interval 21.70–25.73%). Seropositivity of 25.98% (95%CI 23.47–28.66) among female HCWs is significantly higher than 19.48% (95%CI 16.53–22.80) among male HCWs. The zone wise positivity among HCWs closely correlate with cases reported from the respective zone. The sero-positivity among HCWs from the earliest and worst affected zones have lower level of seropositivity as compared to the zones affected recently. This might be pointing towards the fact that the IgG Antibodies may not be long lasting.
Conclusion
As on August 2020, the seropositivity of 23.65% in HCWs indicate high level of disease transmission and higher risk of infection among HCWs in Ahmedabad. The seropositivity is significantly higher among female HCWs. Zone wise seropositivity, closely correlate with the reported cases from the respective zone. Their comparison also indicates the possibility of reducing IgG seropositivity, which necessitates further in-depth scientific research to generate greater scientific evidences.
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