A recently published South African study set out to determine sero-positivity against SARS-CoV-2 before the fourth wave of COVID-19, in which the omicron variant was dominant. Sero-positivity measures the presence of antibodies against the virus; it indicates past infection. The study focused on Gauteng, the country’s economic hub. Ozayr Patel asked Shabir Madhi to unpack the results and explain why the findings suggest that South Africa has reached a turning point in the pandemic.
What we found
The results show the levels of sero-positivity – in other words what percentage of people have antibodies to the virus – among just over 7,000 people from whom samples were taken. From these results the following rates were calculated:
- In those under 12 years of age, none of who received a COVID-19 vaccine, 56% showed presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
- In those over 50 it was 80%, including 70% if unvaccinated and 93% if vaccinated.
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