The Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) fourth countrywide sero survey has shown that two third of the general population India had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, showing that about 40 crore people are still in vulnerable population.

The 4th round of national serosurvey was conducted in 70 districts in June-July and included children of 6-17 years of age.

“Two third of the general population had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and a third of population did not have antibodies, which means still 40 crore people are still in vulnerable category,” ICMR DG Dr Balram Bhargava told media.

The fourth sero survey found the overall sero-prevalence of India to be 67.6 percent.

Findings of the ICMR’s 4th national Covid sero survey show there is a ray of hope, but there is no room for complacency and Covid-appropriate behaviour has to be followed, the government said.

According to the government, 85 per cent of the surveyed healthcare workers had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and one-tenth of HCWs were still unvaccinated.

The survey covered 28,975 general population and 7,252 healthcare workers.

The 67.6 per cent figure is a steep increase from the results of the third national serosurvey.

Conducted between December and January, months before the second wave of infections, it suggested only 21 per cent of those over 10 showed evidence of exposure to COVID-19.

Prime Minister Modi has urged people to follow Covid protocols, warning them that failure to do so will invite the virus to spread more aggressively and infect lakhs more people.

This morning India recorded 30,093 new cases in 24 hours – the lowest in four months.