4.5% COVID-19 cases are re-infections: ICMR study

As many as 8.87 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in India by 8.00 am on April 2. [Representative image]

A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found COVID-19 re-infection among 4.5 percent of those who had already been infected by the disease earlier.

The study, published in Cambridge University’s Epidemiology and Infection journal, was conducted on 1,300 people for epidemiological understanding of COVID-19 re-infections and to assess its impact on India.

The findings of the study, published on March 26, came at a time when India is witnessing a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

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The study’s authors, including ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava, have also expressed concern at a time when vaccination is being rolled to all citizens above the age of 45.

“A working epidemiological case definition of SARS CoV-2 re-infection is important to strengthen surveillance. The present investigation contributes to this goal and records re-infection in 4.5 percent of SARS CoV-2 infected individuals in India,” the study noted.

The authors of the study said that COVID-19 re-infections were an “emerging concern”.

“Re-infection with SARS CoV-2 was defined as two positive tests at an interval of at least 102 days with one interim negative test. Thirty-eight of the 58 eligible patients could be contacted with twelve (31.6 percent) being healthcare workers,” the authors added.

As of April 1, India had reported 1.22 crore COVID-19 cases. Of these 1.14 crore patients had recovered. The death toll had reached 1.62 lakh and the number of ‘active’ cases across the country stood at 5.84 lakh.

As many as 8.87 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in India by 8.00 am on April 2. This included 36.71 lakh doses administered on April 1.