Beijing plans epidemiological survey to track, prepare for future infections

Beijing will soon carry out a survey to measure COVID-19 antibody levels across its population to help assess the epidemic situation in the capital and inform its virus control strategy, Beijing News reported on Tuesday.

Wang Quanyi, deputy director of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said during an interview the city plans to conduct serological tests — which look for antibodies triggered by a previous infection — on about 5,000 residents from February to March.

Survey participants will also fill out a questionnaire that asks about their nucleic acid and antibody testing results, vaccination status and the course of their infections and treatments.

Survey findings will be used to help upgrade allocation of anti-virus resources and optimize policies in the future, he said, adding such surveys will likely be rolled out regularly.

Wang said Beijing has passed the peak of this round of infection and is nearing its end. The dominant strains are BF.7 and BA.5.2.

Because of immunity gained from previous infections, he said the likelihood of seeing another wave in at least three months is very small.

As the epidemic nationwide is also in decline, Wang said the increase in return trips made during the Spring Festival travel rush will not cause trouble.

Given that Beijing has established temporary immunity among its population and is unlikely to experience a fresh wave in the short term, he suggested people aged 80 and above get vaccinated during this window of opportunity.