Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Palestine: a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study

Seroprevalence rates are important indicators to the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the extent of the pandemic given the existence of asymptomatic cases. The purpose of this study is to assess the seroprevalence rate in the Palestinian population residing in the West Bank. Blood samples were collected between 15 ^th June 2020 and 30 ^th June 2020 from 1355 adults from Palestinian households in the West Bank and 1136 individuals visiting laboratories between the 1 ^st May 2020 and 9 ^th July 2020 for a routine checkup. Serological tests for the 2491 serum samples were done using an Immunoassay for the qualitative detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The random sample of Palestinians living in the West Bank yeilded 0% seroprevalence with 95% CI [0,0.0036], while the lab referrals sample yielded an estimated seroprevalence of 0.354% with 95% CI [0.0011,0096]. Our results indicate that as of July 2020, seroprevalence in Palestine persist low and is inadequate to provide herd immunity, emphasizing the need to maintain health measures to keep the outbreak under control. Population-based seroprevalence studies are to be conducted periodically to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Palestine and inform policy makers about the efficacy of their surveillance system.