‘Covid-19 survey not true picture’
Men walk with face masks as a preventive measure, after Pakistan confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus, along a sidewalk in Karachi, Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
A seroepidemiological survey conducted in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to determine the true expanse of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) infections and asymptomatic cases should not be seen as reflective of the true incidence of disease in the population. This was stated by the health ministry on Friday. The ministry said that incomplete data of recent studies are preliminary and should not be used to draw inferences regarding the true incidence or prevalence of Covid-19 in Islamabad. In a clarification, the ministry said that a screening exercise for assessing the presence of coronavirus antibodies was conducted in ICT during June 2020. A review of data set and sample procedures validation activity, along with peer review of data for control of confounders is currently underway, it added. In the absence of completion of all these follow-up confirmatory processes, the community-based preliminary findings should not be used to estimate the disease burden at the population level, the ministry said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2020.