In Gujarat, a survey conducted by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC- has revealed that nearly 40 per cent of the cases who were cured from COVID-19 have lost the antibodies. According to AMC’s press release, such people are still susceptible to get new infections again. The survey also suggests that the city has not reached the level of herd immunity.

Medical Officer of AMC Dr. Bhavin Solanki said that 10 thousand samples covered under the second survey related to COVID-19 infection. He said that the earlier survey showed 17.61 percent positivity, while the latest survey shows 23.24 per cent positivity. This shows 5.5 per cent increase in positivity over one and half month period.

This also indicates that there’s no herd immunity in the city as the herd immunity would require 70 to 80 percent positivity. AMC also did another survey to check antibodies among the people, who had recovered from the infection in the recent past. According to this survey, the antibody had disappeared in 40 percent recovered patients.

Meanwhile, Gujarat government has decided to cut down the salaries of MLAs and ministers by 30 per cent for one year due to COVID-19 pandemic. Government will bring a bill to this effect in the upcoming session of the state assembly. The proposed bill will replace an ordinance issued earlier. Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja told the media persons that this decision was made earlier.

The cabinet had then issued an ordinance that elected representatives will be paid 30 per cent less salaries due to the coronavirus pandemic from April 2020 to March 2021. He said that the state government will save Rs. 6.27 crore by the cut in salaries of elected representatives. This money will be used in the fight against coronavirus. The state government has also decided to cut 30 per cent salaries of those employees who have been retained in government services on contracts after retirement.

According to the latest figures  1280 new cases of Covid-19 recorded during the last 24 hours and 1025 patients discharged from hospitals after recovery.

More than 2331000 tests have been carried out in the state till date, out of which 66,363 tests were carried out yesterday. Out of 1280 new cases, the maximum 171 new cases reported from Surat. Ahmedabad city recorded 147 cases, while Vadodara city recorded 93 cases during the last 24 hours.

Total cases of Covid-19 in the state have gone up to 96,425. At present 15,631 active cases in the state, out of which 79 patients are on ventilator. At the other end, 1025 patients have been discharged from various hospitals after recovery.

With this, the total patients recovered from Covid-19 have gone up to 77,782. 14 patients have lost their lives yesterday, taking the total death due to Covid-19 in the state up to 3022.

Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has added 27 new areas in the micro containment zone following detection of new cases.