India's Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday cautioned that the ICMR's Sero survey report should not create a sense of complacency in people, as the Indian population is not even close to achieving herd immunity.

"Herd immunity or natural population immunity is not an option. Let's put our energy, focus, workforce, actions into what works," said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Covid-19 Technical Lead.

Harsh Vardhan noted that the first sero-survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in May revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73 per cent. "Even the soon-to-be-released second sero-survey's indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following Covid-appropriate behaviour," he added.

(IANS)