Coronavirus: One in four Indians could have been infected with COVID-19, reveals study
An analysis of 270,000 antibody tests conducted by Thyrocare across India showed the presence of antibodies in an average of 26% of the people, indicating they had already been exposed to the coronavirus.
<p>At least one in four people in India may have been infected with the coronavirus - a much higher number than official government figures suggest, the head of a leading private laboratory said.<br /> </p>
At least one in four people in India may have been infected with the coronavirus - a much higher number than official government figures suggest, the head of a leading private laboratory said.
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dr A Velumani said an analysis of 270,000 antibody tests conducted by his company Thyrocare across India showed the presence of antibodies in an average of 26% of the people, indicating they had already been exposed to the coronavirus.<br /> </p>
Dr A Velumani said an analysis of 270,000 antibody tests conducted by his company Thyrocare across India showed the presence of antibodies in an average of 26% of the people, indicating they had already been exposed to the coronavirus.
<p style="text-align: justify;">"This is a much higher percentage than we had expected. The presence of antibodies is uniform across all age groups, including children," Velumani told Reuters.</p>
"This is a much higher percentage than we had expected. The presence of antibodies is uniform across all age groups, including children," Velumani told Reuters.
<p>Thyrocare's findings are in line with government surveys done in Indian cities such as Mumbai, which showed that 57% of the population in its crowded slum areas had been exposed to the coronavirus.<br /> </p>
Thyrocare's findings are in line with government surveys done in Indian cities such as Mumbai, which showed that 57% of the population in its crowded slum areas had been exposed to the coronavirus.
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Thyrocare survey covers paid and tested patients, covering 600 cities in India for the last seven weeks, Velumani added.</p>
The Thyrocare survey covers paid and tested patients, covering 600 cities in India for the last seven weeks, Velumani added.
<p>If the current trend continues, the percentage of India's population having antibodies may reach 40% before the end of December.</p><p> </p>
If the current trend continues, the percentage of India's population having antibodies may reach 40% before the end of December.
<p>India currently has a total of 2.8 million cases, third only behind Brazil and the United States</p>
India currently has a total of 2.8 million cases, third only behind Brazil and the United States
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