COVID-19: new insights from a first serological survey in France

In late March 2020, scientists at the Institut Pasteur, with the support of the Hauts-de-France Regional Health Agency and the Amiens Education Authority and the backing of the French Blood Service (EFS), carried out an epidemiological survey on 661 people linked to a high school in Crépy-en-Valois, in the Oise department. Thanks to the cooperation of the people of Crépy-en-Valois, the survey, which made use of virus detection tests together with three serological tests developed by the Institut Pasteur, revealed that 26% of the surveyed population had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 and had developed antibodies against the virus. More specifically, 41% of those attending the high school had been infected, and the percentage among their families was 11%. The results have been published on MedRxiv.

Watch the press briefing from Friday April 24

See the general public conference on the results presented to the families who participated in the study

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