NEW DELHI: In order to keep a closer watch on the prevalence and spread of Covid-19 in the country, the health ministry has initiated a facility-based surveillance in all districts and a more focused population-based “sero-survey” of high- and low-risk groups in select districts.
The surveillance will be in addition to routine testing as per current guidelines, the ministry said. The move assumes significance as it will not only help the government and its agencies monitor Covid-19 trends but also check for community transmission in any part of the country.
A sero-survey involves testing of blood serum of a group of individuals and this will be used to monitor trends in prevalence of the novel coronavirus, or SARS-COV-2, infection at the district level. The surveillance will be conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Centre for Disease Control in collaboration with key stakeholders and s