As per reports, 605 out of 806 people that underwent testing for antibodies for the coronavirus at five slums in Cuffee Parade have tested positive.
This survey was conducted between October 5 and October 10 at five locations in the ward which showed that 75 percent of the population tested positive for antibodies. This is one of the highest seropositivity rate recorded in the country and the positivity rate
A previous seroprevalence survey conducted by BMC has shown 45% seroprevalence results in slums and 18% in building while this recent survey showed that a much higher percentage, 75% of the population tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies.
Out of the total 806 patients tested during the serosurvey, 605 had antibodies but only 1% reported being tested positive for Covid-19.
Eyebetes foundation and BJP Corporator Harshita Narvekar organized the seroprevalence survey for the slum residents.
“The slum areas of Cuffe Parade were not part of the serosurveys conducted by the BMC during September this year,” Narwekar said.
“This survey was necessary for our ward as many people from the slum areas are employed as domestic help and drivers in the residential buildings and corporate office,” Narwekar added.
Eyebetes foundation didn’t deny the fact that it’s possible that many people were unwilling to give information about the previous infection or all of them had an asymptomatic infection.
“Total of 31 people did not answer a question on whether they had coronavirus in the past which points to the stigma attached to the virus”, read a statement from Eyebetes.
Dr. Nishant Kumar, who had to lead the medical team informed the survey results will vary area-wise as itis heavily influenced by factors like the social stature of the samples, how many people living together in a house, and how many people living in a house.
“In slum areas, the positivity rate is higher because generally more number of people live in a single room and the number of people using common toilets is also higher” Kumar added.
