Preliminary data of our Geneva serosurvey capturing most of #COVID19 2nd wave show that only 22% of the population has #antibodies against #SARS-CoV-2, with large age disparities (<15% children 0-6y; 10% seniors >75y; ~30% 18-25y). Children >6y have similar rates than adults
We decided to release this data to inform the population in view of the Christmas family gatherings when traditionally different generations mix. However, a very large majority of the seniors, those most at risk of developing severe forms, are still completely naive to the virus
Children data also does not allow us to confirm our May report, as it appears that only very small children (<6) are somewhat less susceptible/exposed
It’s a newly recruited representative sample of the Geneva population for <18y & >65y olds. For the 18-65y olds, it’s a stratified random sample of our spring serosurvey. Final N ~4000. The tests is Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, targeting antibodies against the spike protein
We are measuring many things with these new data, and follow up participants longitudinally on specchio-covid19.ch. Stay tuned!
Our gratitude also goes to the thousands of participants, including seniors or with mobility issues who participated and the so many families who accepted to enroll their children into the study so that these data could be produced 🙏
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1/ I may be repeating myself, but I want to fight this sense of security that I see outside of the epicenters, as if nothing was going to happen "here". The media in Europe are reassuring, politicians are reassuring, while there's little to be reassured of. #COVID19#coronavirus
2/ This is the English translation of a post of another ICU physician in Bergamo, Dr. Daniele Macchini. Read until the end "After much thought about whether and what to write about what is happening to us, I felt that silence was not responsible.
3/ I will therefore try to convey to people far from our reality what we are living in Bergamo in these days of Covid-19 pandemic. I understand the need not to create panic, but when the message of the dangerousness of what is happening does not reach people I shudder.