NEW DELHI: More than one-fifth of the country’s adult population had at some point been infected by Covid-19 by mid-December, the third serological survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research shows.
The separate data released on seroprevalence among those aged 10-18 was found to be 25.3%. The data released reflect the prevalence of antibodies, read as evidence that the person has had Covid-19. “Delhi was not a part of the survey. We have made statistical extrapolations so we can say that 21.4% of Indians were seropositive,” ICMR director general Balram Bhargava said.
The third survey found a significant increase in prevalence among adults at 21.4%, up from 7.1% during the second survey in August. In the first survey conducted in April, only 0.7% prevalence was detected. It was conducted between December 17 and January 8.

The latest survey was conducted between December 17 and January 8 in the same 700 villages in 70 districts across 21 states where the first and second rounds were conducted in April and August. Among healthcare workers, seroprevalence was 25.7%, with 26.6% among doctors and nurses.
The government emphasised that a large proportion of the population is still vulnerable and there is no scope to lower the guard as herd immunity could not be assumed and added that following Covid-appropriate behaviour is needed.
Currently, India’s total active caseload has dropped to 1.6 lakh. In the last three weeks, 47 districts across the country have not reported any new case, 251 had no deaths during that period. The survey covered 28,589 people aged over 10, and 7,171 healthcare workers.
The prevalence in urban slums was found to be the highest at 31.7%, followed by 26.2% in other urban areas and 19.1% in rural areas. The prevalence was slightly higher among women at 22.7%, as against 20.3% in men.