Pakistan, WHO to collaborate on study for gauging Covid-19 prevalence

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Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza announced that Pakistan will collaborate with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for a "unity study" on gauging the prevalence of Covid-19 in the country.

Addressing a press conference, he said: "Pakistan is only South Asian nation to be included." He added that the Health Services Academy and the Aga Khan University will also be a part of the study.

"By the end of next month, we will have the results of this study through which we will be able to say what the prevalence is in Pakistan. Right now, our strategy is living with the virus. When we get to know about its prevalence, then we will be able to plan how to live with it."

WHO representative Dr Palitha Mahipala said: "The primary objective is to find the prevalence of antibodies by age and sex groups. The WHO study is population-based, determines to provide seriological prevalence and epidemiological traits of Covid-19 [...] It will help to plan and stop spread of the virus."

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