The third Tamil Nadu Sero survey in July, covering over 26,000 samples revealed that at least 66.2 per cent of the population has developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causesCovid-19. Among the 26,610 samples tested, 17,624 individuals had IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus. While the overall seroprevalence was 66.2 per cent, the highest seropositivity was observed in Virudhunagar district at 84 per cent while Erode in west Tamil Nadu reported the lowest at 37, according to the latest serosuvrey conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in 888 clusters across the state. In the earlier state-wide surveys, the seropositivity was 31 per cent in October/November 2020, and 29 per cent (in the second conducted in April 2021).
Covid cases rise in Kerala, Centre sends team
In the wake of a sharp and persistent increase in daily new cases of Covid-19 in Kerala, the Centre has sent a high -evel team to the southern state to support in the effective public health interventions in order to contain the infection spread. Kerala has been recording more than 20,000 new cases for the few weeks. The state with an active case load of 154,000 is contributing 37.1% of the total active cases, with a growth rate of 1.41 (per cent) in the last seven days. The state is also reporting a high positivity of 12.93%, while six of its districts have more than 10% weekly positivity. Central sources said Kerala, in mid-May 2021 was reporting a high of more than 43,000 new cases a day and this began to decline there on to the first week of June. But from June third week to date, daily new cases are rising in a gradual and consistent manner with Kerala recently reporting more than 22,000 new cases in a day. This is more than 50% of the peak witnessed by Kerala in mid-May.
