Smokers and vegetarians were found to have lower sero-positivity, while those with blood group “O” may be less susceptible to coronavirus, according to a survey by an top research body.
The pan-India serosurvey, conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), studied the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), and their neutralisation capability to infer possible risk factors for infection.
The study, done by a team of 140 doctors and scientists, assessed 10,427 individuals in more than 40 CSIR laboratories and centres in urban and semi-urban settings, and their family members.