Health Authorities "Investigate COVID-19 Population Immunity Through National Health and Nutrition Survey" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The quarantine authorities will conduct a 'population immunity' survey to confirm the scale of domestic transmission of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 30th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at a regular briefing held at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk, "The plan is to confirm the trend of COVID-19 community infections and herd immunity for the purpose of establishing effective quarantine measures."

The population immunity survey aims to determine how many people have developed immunity after being infected with the disease. In the case of COVID-19, it is known that 'herd immunity' is formed when more than 60% of the population is infected. The results of the immunity survey are also used to understand the mortality rate among the infected.

Population immunity is evaluated based on whether antibodies that neutralize the virus have been formed.

Deputy Head Kwon said, "As one method of selecting a sample that can represent the entire population, we will utilize blood samples obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey."

In Korea, since the largest number of COVID-19 confirmed cases occurred in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church, the quarantine authorities plan to first conduct antibody tests in this area.

Deputy Head Kwon stated, "We will discuss with experts to select reagents and proceed quickly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.