National survey to check immunity of citizens and expatriates

Oman Saturday 11/July/2020 17:01 PM
By: Times News Service
National survey to check immunity of citizens and expatriates

Muscat: Oman plans to conduct a national medical survey from today to check the immunity level of citizens and expatriates. The survey will also help in taking decisions on the reopening of mosques, schools, colleges, universities, nurseries and other closed activities in the future, said an official of the Infection Prevention and Control Section at the Ministry of Health.
While talking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Dr. Abdullah Al Qayoodhi, Consulate on infectious diseases and immunology, head of infection prevention section and one of the medical leader in the Directorate General of disease surveillance and control at the Ministry of Health, said:"Through National Survey, we will be able to know the immunity percentage in different areas of the Sultanate. If the community immunity is strong, it will help us in taking decisions on the reopening of schools, colleges, universities, nurseries, mosques, parks, resorts and other activities.”
“We will have to take more precautionary measures in areas where individuals with weak immunity are found or if the area has a probability of large scale infections. The total or partial closure of commercial and industrial establishments will continue in such areas."
Dr. Abdullah confirmed: “The national survey will start on July 12, 2020 throughout the Sultanate and at the wilayat level in the form of a cross-sectional survey, with samples to be chosen from all the citizens of all ages except for children who are aged under five years. It will include Omani and non Omani citizens. The Ministry of Health will contact all those covered by the national survey by phone.”
He explained: “The mechanism of selection will be random sampling based on the specific calculations and data of the population will be analysed in collaboration with different sectors. The data will be collected through the Trassud Plus programme and include demographic data on the participant, a blood sample for the examination of antibodies of COVID-19, and the filling of a questionnaire on medical history, marital status and symptoms.”
Dr. Abdullah added: “People in Oman whether citizens or expats believe that the national survey aims to detect people with COVID-19 symptoms and to identify those who did not go for tests at the nearest hospitals despite showing symptoms or were asymptomatic. This is totally incorrect."
Dr. Abdullah explained:"The aim of the medical survey is to find out the immunity of individuals in Omani communities in various wilayats of the Sultanate. By doing so, we will be able to know which areas have strong immunity and which have weak."
"The meaning of immunity is that some people have been infected with COVID-19, but they did not show symptoms of the disease and this means they have a good immunity against Coronavirus. For example, if an infected person has the symptoms of COVID-19, and he visits one of the malls, or commercial stores or any public place, then those with immunity against COVID19 will not be infected so the virus will not be transmitted to others."
"When the majority population is immune to an infectious disease, this provides indirect protection—or herd immunity (also called herd protection)—to those who are not immune to the disease. For example, if 80% of a population is immune to a virus, four out of every five people who meet any disease carrier will not get sick (and won’t spread the disease any further). In this way, the spread of infectious diseases is kept under control. Depending on how contagious an infection is, usually 70% to 90% of a population needs immunity to achieve herd immunity," he added.
He confirmed: "The method of taking samples from the Omani community will be random, and will not be taken again. There are many requirements during the selection process."
“Nearly 4,000 blood samples will be examined per session over a period of five days. About 300 to 400 blood samples will be taken from each governorate, with a total of 20,000 blood samples during the 10-week survey period, separated by two weeks per session.
“So the study will cover 20,000 in the Sultanate in 10 weeks,” Dr. Abdullah said, adding, “Blood samples, not swab from the nose or mouth will be taken during the national survey.”
“This study will help get data on the prevalence of COVID-19 infection as per the age groups, monitor undiagnosed cases in the laboratory, and estimate the level and the percentage of infection at the wilayat level.
“It will also help in detecting asymptomatic cases, cumulative number of infections, the impact of standard of living on the extent of the disease in the wilayats and assess the effects of closure on the spread of the pandemic compared to the non-closed areas.”
He said: "s for people who have symptoms of COVID-19, they should go to the nearest health centre for tests, not through the National Medical Survey."
Dr. Abdullah concluded: “The success of the study depends on the concerted efforts of all concerned individuals and institutions. It is expected the results will help achieve the goals by activating individual and collective responsibility under the slogan together we will defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.”